CPI MP Sandosh Kumar Demands NIA Probe Into Alleged Mass Burials In Dharmasthala
Bengaluru: Communist Party of India (CPI) Rajya Sabha MP P Sandosh Kumar has formally written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urgently appealing for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into a disturbing pattern of alleged crimes and mass concealment in Dharmasthala, a revered pilgrimage town in Karnataka. The demand comes in the wake of a chilling sworn confession by a former sanitation worker who claims to have been coerced into disposing of over 500 human bodies, many of them women and minors who had allegedly been sexually assaulted.
The MP’s letter, dated July 19, 2025, highlights the gravity of the situation, stating, “Most chilling is the recent confession made on July 3, 2025 by a former temple sanitation worker, now under witness protection, who alleges that between 1995 and 2014, he was forced under threat to dispose of over 500 human bodies, many of them women and minors who had been sexually assaulted.” The whistleblower has reportedly provided physical evidence and expressed willingness to lead investigators to the burial sites in the forests surrounding Dharmasthala.
Mr Kumar’s letter underscores that these are not isolated incidents. “These are not isolated aberrations. Taken together, they reveal signs of an organised criminal enterprise – one that has flourished under administrative silence,” he writes. The MP asserts that “this disturbing is the pattern of intimidation and suppression that surrounds every attempt to seek justice. Activists, RTI petitioners, journalists, and grieving families have faced threats, fabricated cases, online abuse, and in some cases, even physical harm.”
CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar Demands NIA Probe into Pattern of Crimes and Alleged Mass Burials in Dharmasthala, Karnataka.
Writes to MHA Shri Amit Shah after a chilling sworn confession by a former sanitation worker, who claimed to have disposed of over 500 human bodies. pic.twitter.com/4VA1yYXHbb
— CPI – Communist Party of India (@CPI_National) July 19, 2025
The letter further criticises the state government’s response, noting, “Despite mass protests and years of appeals, the state government has failed to constitute a credible Special Investigation Team (SIT). The so-called ‘Acquittal Review Committee’ was never operationalised meaningfully.” Mr Kumar points out the local police’s alleged complicity, stating they “remain handicapped by their inaction and at times, alleged complicity-cannot be expected to ensure a fair and transparent process.”
The MP’s appeal to the Union Home Minister emphasizes the need for a central agency. “It is for this reason that I urge the Ministry of Home Affairs to immediately hand over the entire investigation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Only an agency with full authority and clear mandate can unravel the extent of this alleged criminal network, identify those responsible, and restore faith in the justice system,” the letter states.
The CPI MP also draws attention to several historical cases that have plagued Dharmasthala, some dating back decades. He mentions the 1979 disappearance of schoolteacher Vedavalli, the 1986 case of PU student Padmalatha, the 2004 disappearance of medical student Ananya Bhat, and the 2012 rape and murder of 17-year-old Sowjanya. These cases, along with “unnatural death reports (UDRs) filed by the local police in this small town [that] is alarmingly high-far beyond what can be dismissed as statistical anomaly,” paint a grim picture of a town shrouded in mystery and fear.
The whistleblower’s recent confession has reignited calls for a thorough investigation. The individual, who worked for the temple administration, claims he was forced to burn and bury bodies, many of which showed signs of sexual assault and violence. He has reportedly exhumed some skeletal remains as proof and presented them to the authorities. His lawyers have also advocated for an SIT probe, expressing concerns about the safety of the whistleblower and the integrity of the investigation.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has indicated that the state government is not opposed to an SIT probe but will await a police report before making a decision. However, the Home Minister of Karnataka has, for now, ruled out an SIT probe, stating the investigation is in its preliminary stages.
Mr Kumar concludes his impassioned plea by asserting the sanctity of Dharmasthala: “Let me emphasise that this appeal is made in the firm belief that the spiritual sanctity of Dharmasthala must be protected—not just in ritual or appearance, but in truth, justice, and transparency. A sacred town revered by devotees across India cannot remain clouded by fear, suspicion, and buried truths.” He urges the government to consider this matter with the “urgency and seriousness it demands,” stressing that “the truth is uncovered without fear or favour.”
