Confirming the arrest of the complainant in the controversial Dharmasthala case, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stated that the government is not for or against any party and only wants justice to prevail.
"We are neither for them (Dharmasthala) nor for them. We are for justice," the Deputy Chief Minister was quoted as saying by Kannada media on Saturday. "We are just saying, don't do politics on the issue of religion."
Shivakumar added that the family in charge of the Dharmasthala shrine was supportive of the formation of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations. He reiterated that the guilty would face consequences, regardless of their identity. "The family of the shrine came and spoke to the Chief Minister and said that it was a good thing that you formed the SIT. The investigation is underway. The Chief Minister and the Home Minister have stated in the House and in the CLP meeting that the government will take action no matter who is guilty," Prajavani quoted DKS as saying.
Karnataka Home Minister says too early to reach any conclusion
It is extremely disturbing to note that one masked man took the entire government machinery of the Karnataka State for granted for over a month, with the sole aim of denigrating one of the Pillars of Sanatana Dharma, the Dharmasthala Temple. This is not just one man’s doing but a…
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) August 23, 2025
Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday confirmed the arrest of the complainant, who had alleged multiple murders, rapes, and burials in Dharmasthala over the past two decades. However, he cautioned that no conclusion could be drawn until the SIT completes its probe.
He added that the SIT is likely to continue its investigation based on the statements given by the complainant.
"It is true that he has been arrested and is in police custody," Parameshwara told reporters when asked about the arrest and the grounds for it. "As the investigation is on, no information can be shared. The police (SIT) investigation is ongoing, and they have arrested him. The SIT will share the details."
Whistleblower presented before court
Meanwhile, the SIT presented the complainant, a witness in the case of alleged burial of bodies related to criminal acts in Dharmasthala village, before the Belthangady court. The witness had claimed to have dug up and buried a body himself, and he produced a skull, which he claimed was from the same. However, during interrogation, he refused to reveal to the SIT where the skull was taken from. Investigators questioned him until late on Friday night regarding this matter.
After he admitted to lying, the SIT authorities took him into custody. On Saturday morning, he was taken for a medical examination and then produced in court.
The SIT had previously dug up and conducted searches at 17 of the 18 places indicated by the witness-complainant in Dharmasthala village. The remains of a dead body were found in one of the dug-up places, and on the ground at another. The SIT has sent these remains to a forensic laboratory for analysis. The complainant, a former sanitation worker, claimed that he worked in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014 and was forced to bury several bodies, including those of women and minors. He alleged that some of the bodies bore signs of sexual assault and had previously recorded a statement before a magistrate.
