Bengaluru, 16 July

A group of advocates met State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday, urging him to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) monitored by a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court or High Court to probe cases of disappearances, unnatural deaths, and sexual assaults in Dharmasthala over the past two decades.

Citing recent media reports and a statement made in court by a sanitation worker who claimed to have buried "hundreds of bodies" in the area, the advocates—including former chairman of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, CS Dwarakanath — alleged that although an FIR has been registered and an investigation is underway, these bodies reportedly remain unexhumed.

Given the gravity of the alleged crimes, the memorandum submitted to the CM said that the "distressing information" suggested the involvement of "highly influential" and "powerful personalities" with significant political clout.

The advocates urged Siddaramaiah to constitute a SIT monitored by an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)-level officer, along with a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court or Karnataka High Court.  They also called for the involvement of a dedicated Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team, including experts in DNA analysis, digital forensics, and other specialised units.