Shocking Revelations from Karnataka: Former Cleaner Claims to Have Buried Hundreds of Bodies
Disturbing Testimony from a Former Cleaner
Location: A shocking revelation has emerged from Dharmasthala, Karnataka. A man who worked as a cleaner at the Dharmasthala temple for 19 years has provided a statement before a magistrate, claiming he disposed of hundreds of bodies. Most of these corpses were reportedly women and girls who had been raped and murdered. Let's delve into the details of this alarming case.
On July 3, 2025, a complaint was filed at the Dharmasthala police station that left everyone stunned. The complaint was made by a former cleaner who had worked for the temple administration from 1995 to 2014. He stated that between 1998 and 2014, he was forced to bury or cremate hundreds of bodies, primarily of women and underage girls, many of whom bore signs of sexual assault and violence. He claimed that several bodies were found without clothing, and some had marks of strangulation or injuries from sharp weapons.
Missing Skirts and Under Garments...
The cleaner recounted several horrifying incidents in his complaint. He mentioned being instructed to bury the body of a schoolgirl aged 12-15 in 2010. The girl was in her school uniform, but her skirt and undergarments were missing. Her body showed signs of sexual assault and strangulation. This body was buried near a petrol station close to Keleri. In another incident, he was ordered to burn the body of a 20-year-old woman whose face was severely burned with acid, and her body was wrapped in newspaper.
Threats and Fear
He also revealed that he faced repeated threats. His supervisor would say, 'If you refuse, we will chop you up and bury you like these bodies.' Out of fear, he complied with their orders. However, in 2014, after his own underage daughter was sexually assaulted, he fled Dharmasthala and hid in neighboring states.
Truth Emerges After 16 Years
After years of hiding, he gathered the courage to return in 2025. He submitted his complaint to the police, providing not only his testimony but also photographs of bones he had secretly exhumed. To prove his identity, he presented his Aadhaar card and old employee ID. He expressed, 'If these bodies receive a dignified burial, it will lighten my burden. The souls of these deceased deserve peace.'
He also mentioned that he could identify more burial sites and name the criminals involved. However, he requested protection under the Witness Protection Act of 2018, fearing that some of the criminals are influential individuals connected to the temple administration. To ensure his safety, he handed a sealed envelope containing the names of the criminals to Supreme Court lawyer K.V. Dhananjay, stating that if anything happened to him, the truth would come to light.
Who Oversees the Temple Administration?
Dharmasthala is a significant pilgrimage site located in the South Canara district of Karnataka, about 75 kilometers from Mangalore, attracting thousands of devotees annually. The temple is known for its unique traditions, where Hindu priests conduct rituals, but the administration is managed by the Jain community. Currently, the administration is led by the Hegde family, with Veerendra Hegde as the hereditary administrator. The cleaner alleged that some criminals are linked to the temple administration and have considerable influence. He stated, 'The individuals I am naming are very powerful and can eliminate their opponents.'
Previous Cases of Allegations
This is not the first time such allegations have surfaced in Dharmasthala. In 2012, the rape and murder of a 17-year-old named Saujanya shocked the nation. Questions were raised about the functioning of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to investigate the case, with accusations of evidence tampering and protecting influential individuals. The Saujanya case remains unresolved, and many believe justice has not been served.
Similarly, in 2003, the disappearance of an MBBS student, Ananya Bhatt, came to light. Her mother, Sujata, a former stenographer in the CBI, recently filed a new complaint at the Dharmasthala police station on July 15. Sujata believes her daughter could be one of the unidentified bodies mentioned by the cleaner. She recounted that when she reported her daughter's disappearance to the police, they did not take it seriously, suggesting that her daughter had eloped.
Covered Head to Toe Before the Judge
Following the cleaner's testimony, on July 4, the South Canara police registered a case under Section 211(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). On July 13, to conceal his identity, he appeared before the Principal Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class of Belthangady, covering his entire body. On July 16, a group of lawyers met with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demanding the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to be overseen by a sitting or retired judge. They requested that an officer of ADGP rank be included in the investigation, along with a forensic team, video recording of the investigation, and immediate detention and questioning of all suspects, regardless of their status.
The Chairperson of the Karnataka State Women's Commission, Nagalakshmi Chaudhary, also wrote to the Chief Minister on July 14, questioning the police's inaction. She stated that when families approach the police with complaints about missing persons, they often do not take them seriously. She has called for strict action on this matter.