Timeline of Dharmasthala case From Whistleblower to Women’s Commission’s SIT Plea
Bengaluru/Mangaluru, July 18, 2025: The peaceful sanctity of Dharmasthala, a temple town in Karnataka, has been shattered by a series of shocking allegations involving mass rapes, murders, and clandestine burials reportedly taking place in the adjacent woodlands. These disturbing allegations have been brought to light by a former sanitation worker's confession, which has prompted a wave of public indignation. In response, the Karnataka State Women's Commission is now advocating for a comprehensive Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a retired judge to probe the decades-long history of purported criminal activities. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the commission underscores the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the need for immediate action. This controversial case has gained significant momentum as families of the missing are coming forth, thereby challenging Govt's commitment to deliver justice. Here is a recap of the events that have transpired so far in this unfolding drama.
Timeline of the Dharmasthala Case
July 5, 2025: The whistleblower, through lawyers Ojaswi Gowda and Sachin Deshpande, publicly claims he buried “hundreds of bodies,” many showing signs of sexual assault, fueling public outrage.
July 7, 2025: Supreme Court advocate A. Velan demands urgent exhumation, warning of evidence tampering due to delays.
July 9, 2025: Reports of skeletal remains found near Dharmasthala intensify calls for action, but the witness backs out of a court appearance due to protection concerns.
July 10, 2025: The Centre presses Karnataka to act as police delays draw criticism six days post-FIR.
July 11, 2025: The whistleblower, under tight security, submits a human skeleton to a Belthangady magistrate under Section 183 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, offering to guide police to burial sites.
July 12, 2025: Media reports amplify allegations, citing the skull recovery and a missing medical student’s family, prompting the Karnataka Women’s Commission to take suo motu cognizance.
July 13-14, 2025: The witness’s lawyers, Dheeraj S.J. and Ananya Gowda, confirm sharing his address and spending four hours with police at the alleged site. Police claim he is “unavailable.”
July 14, 2025: Karnataka Women’s Commission Chairperson Nagalakshmi Choudhary writes to CM Siddaramaiah and SP K. Arun, demanding an SIT to probe allegations about 20 years of missing women, unnatural deaths, and rapes, citing police inaction on past complaints.
July 15, 2025: Sujatha Bhat, files a complaint alleging her daughter Ananya, an MBBS student, vanished in Dharmasthala in 2003, claiming police ignored her and she was assaulted.
July 16, 2025: Police cite procedural delays, suspecting the witness may abscond if excavation begins. They seek court approval for brain mapping and narco-analysis, escalating tensions.