Karnataka High Court lifts stay on SIT probe into alleged mass burial case in Dharmasthala
Bengaluru
The Karnataka High Court has vacated the interim stay that had halted the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) probe into the alleged burial of hundreds of bodies in Dharmasthala. With this order, the SIT can now resume its investigation, and the accused — Vithal Gowda, Girish Mattannavar, Mahesh Timarodi, and T. Jayanth — are required to appear before the investigation team for questioning.
Earlier, these individuals had challenged the notices issued by Beltangadi police in connection with FIR No. 39/2025 registered at the Dharmasthala Police Station. Justice P. M. Nawaz, hearing the petitions, dismissed the interim stay and allowed the investigation to continue.
During the hearing, the government’s counsel stated that the petitioners had been served multiple notices and questioned for over 150 hours. Initially, they were treated as witnesses, but later, based on evidence, were summoned as accused.
The petitioners’ counsel argued that the SIT had acted unlawfully by issuing notices through WhatsApp and email without proper summons, adding that their clients were neither accused nor witnesses. They alleged the investigation was politically and religiously motivated and claimed harassment through repeated summons.
However, the SIT counsel countered that the complaint was filed by Chinnayya based on the petitioners’ provocation, and after his Section 164 statement, the petitioners were named accused. Excavations at 20 locations in Dharmasthala revealed no evidence to support the initial claims, but further investigation was necessary.
After hearing both sides, the High Court lifted the stay, clearing the way for the SIT to proceed with its probe into the controversial Dharmasthala case.