Bengaluru, 30 July

Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said that the State government will decide if there is a need to replace senior IPS officer Pronab Mohanty, who is the SIT chief, set up to probe the allegations of "mass burials" in Dharmasthala, considering law and rules.

He was replying to a question by reporters regarding replacing Mohanty, who has found a place in the list of empanelment of Director General-rank officers to serve in the union government, released by the Centre.

"We will discuss if he (Mohanty) can continue to head the Special Investigation Team being there (in a new role at Centre) or should he be replaced. If law and rule permits that he can continue to head the SIT being there. We will continue him. If he needs to be replaced, the government will appoint an official of the same ranking," he responded to a question.

Asked about the SIT investigation, he said, "I will not make any comments on the Dharmasthala SIT probe. After the probe is completed and we get the report, we can speak then. Until then I will not speak."

The SIT was consituted by the state government following claims about alleged mass murder, rape, and mass burials in Dharmasthala, over the past two decades.

This follows after former State Deputy Superintendent of Police Anupama Shenoy requested the removal of Mohanty as the chief of SIT, alleging his previous role as the Superintendent of Police could affect the fairness of the probe.