Dharmasthala Case Update: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday addressed the ongoing concerns surrounding the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the shocking Dharmasthala mass burial allegations. He clarified that senior IPS officer Pronab Mohanty, currently leading the SIT, will be replaced if he takes up a position with the Central government.
Mohanty, who currently serves as the Director General of the Internal Security Division, has been included in the Union government’s empanelment list for Director General-rank officers. This development has sparked speculation about his potential transfer and its possible impact on the SIT’s probe into the explosive allegations of mass rapes, murders, and illegal burials in Dharmasthala spanning nearly two decades.
CM Siddaramaiah Confirms Conditional Replacement
Responding to media queries, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said,
“Let’s see. If he [Mohanty] goes to the central government, he will be replaced.”
While the CM hinted at a possible leadership change in the SIT, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara provided a more cautious response, stating that no final decision has been made.
Home Minister Parameshwara: No Decision Yet on Pronab Mohanty’s Deputation
Home Minister Parameshwara addressed growing public curiosity, saying,
“There are a lot of misconceptions around this. The government appointed Mohanty because we wanted a senior officer of DG rank to lead the SIT. His name is indeed in the central deputation list, but we have not yet decided whether to relieve him or not. This falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) and the Chief Minister.”
Govt Denies Any Attempt to Derail SIT Probe
When questioned whether the possible change in SIT leadership was an attempt to dilute the investigation, Parameshwara strongly denied the allegation:
“Why would we form an SIT if we wanted to divert attention? The only purpose is to find the truth. The SIT will complete its probe and submit a full report. We want transparency, and I believe that’s what the public wants too.”
Background: Alarming Allegations in Dharmasthala
The SIT was constituted by the Congress-led Karnataka government after a former sanitation worker made disturbing claims about mass graves in Dharmasthala, a renowned pilgrimage town in Dakshina Kannada district.
The worker alleged that during his employment between 1995 and 2014, he was forced to bury numerous bodies, including those of women and children. He claimed that several of these corpses bore signs of sexual assault.
These serious allegations were backed by a sworn statement before a magistrate, prompting the government to form a high-level SIT to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Public Concern and Political Ramifications
The Dharmasthala case has drawn widespread attention not just for its gruesome nature, but also for the potential political fallout. With the SIT probe still ongoing, the public continues to demand accountability, transparency, and justice.
As the state government navigates both internal decisions and public scrutiny, the future of the SIT and its leadership remains under close watch.