Dharmasthala horror: Karnataka government sets up SIT to probe the case
The SIT, headed by top police officer P. Mohanty, will now investigate these decades-old allegations. This move comes amid calls for a court-monitored probe to ensure a fair investigation and prevent witness intimidation. Additionally, a political storm is brewing in Andhra Pradesh, where former Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy has been named in the CID's remand report concerning an alleged ₹3,200 crore liquor scam. In other news, the Enforcement Directorate has summoned Tollywood stars including Rana Daggubati and Vijay Devrakonda for promoting illegal betting apps, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has been hospitalised after experiencing mild giddiness.
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The Print
8 hours ago
- The Print
Dharmasthala SIT probe mired in uncertainty with 2 officers' request to exit & govt's attempt at retention
'Two officers have made it clear that they do not want to be part of the SIT. They have conveyed this to the government and are convinced about opting out,' said one person aware of the developments. In an order on 19 July, the Siddaramaiah-led government had said that Director General of Police Pronab Mohanty would lead the team, and would be assisted by three IPS officers—M.N. Anucheth, S.K. Soumyalatha and Jitendra Kumar Dayama. Bengaluru: The special investigation team (SIT) formed to probe allegations of rape, murder and mass-burials in Dharmasthala is embroiled in controversy even as it is yet to begin its investigation in the matter, with two officers requesting to be replaced, ThePrint has learnt. The person added that one officer said that they would rather face disciplinary action than getting entangled in the politics of the case, since it allegedly involves members of one of the most influential and wealthiest families in the state. On 3 July, a former sanitation worker of Dharmasthala temple had alleged that he was coerced to bury, burn or dispose of 'hundreds' of dead bodies, adding that most of these bodies were those of women who appeared to have been victims of rape and torture. According to people aware of the developments, the government is still trying to convince the officers to continue in the SIT as their exit would send the 'wrong message' to the public. 'It's like they are doomed if they do, and doomed if they don't,' said the person quoted above, requesting anonymity. The concern that the two officers requesting to opt out have shared is that they would be subject to extreme scrutiny and political pressure due to the nature of the case and those allegedly involved. 'If they find something, they will face political pressure to alter it or water it down. And if they don't find anything as expected by those opposing the powerful family, then they will be judged as sellouts. It's that sort of a case where doing anything or nothing will be equally damaging,' the person told ThePrint. Also Read: The dead speak in Dharmasthala. Sinister story behind temple town's mass graves, unearthed 'No changes' Mohanty is the DGP (Internal Security Division), while Anucheth, who was serving as Joint Commissioner (Traffic) was transferred as Deputy Inspector General (Recruitment) on 14 July. Soumyalatha serves as Deputy Commissioner of Police (City Armed Reserve Headquarters), and Dayama is Superintendent of Police (Internal Security Division). Mohanty told ThePrint that as far as he was aware, there were no changes to the SIT. On Wednesday, the government released another order in which it named 20 police officers who will be part of the SIT. But the confusion with respect to the team has delayed the commencement of the probe on top of the initial delay by the Dakshina Kannada Police. The police filed an FIR on 4 July, and the former sanitation worker even made a statement before a Belthangady court on 10 July. But the district police made no progress. The former sanitation worker had offered to take the police to the burial sites, but the latter showed no interest in even finding out if the claims made by the former were true or not. On the afternoon of 16 July, he sat in a car while his lawyers waited on the road by the Nethravathi river, expecting the police to arrive. Media personnel and townsfolk watched from across the bridge, but the police never showed up. The complainant waited for 30 minutes and left. In a statement last Wednesday, the Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police said that there were credible intelligence inputs that the witness was likely to abscond after the digging of the graves. He also said that the police officers have put in a request to carry out brain mapping, fingerprint scans and narco tests on the complainant. Even the skeletal remains that the complainant handed over to the police were not sent to the forensic science laboratory and were kept in a hospital for medical opinion. The delays in the SIT probe have not helped. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has further fuelled confusion by saying that all officers (IPS-level) will remain in the SIT for now. 'If someone has requested the DGP or commissioner, they will be replaced. For whatever reason, the people in that committee, if they give a convincing reason not to be in it, they will be replaced,' Parameshwara told reporters Tuesday. He, however, claimed that he was aware of this information only through media reports and that none of these requests had reached him officially. (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Witness protection for Karnataka Dalit who 'buried scores of women for Dharamsthala temple authorities'
Hans India
11 hours ago
- Hans India
Cabinet to discuss Virat Kohli's role in stampede case if named in report: Karnataka Minister
Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Thursday said the state cabinet will discuss the role of cricketer Virat Kohli in connection with the June 4 stampede tragedy, which claimed 11 lives, if his name is mentioned in the judicial commission report. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Parameshwara said, 'The report on the stampede case, submitted by retired Justice John Michael D'Cunha, will be discussed in the cabinet meeting. I don't know how the discussion will proceed. The matter is on the agenda, but I can't say what decision the cabinet will take.' When asked whether the state government is planning to lodge criminal cases in connection with the incident, he responded, 'The recommendations of the report will be discussed, and ultimately, the cabinet will take a decision.' In response to a question on whether the report mentions the role of cricketer Virat Kohli, Parameshwara said, 'If the report refers to him, the matter will be discussed in the cabinet. If it doesn't, there will be no discussion.' He clarified that the judicial commission was assigned specific terms of reference related to the stampede and not with regard to any individual. 'The government did not direct the commission to investigate any particular person. The commission was instructed to probe what happened and make recommendations accordingly,' he said. Commenting on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations about irregularities in the conduct of elections, Parameshwara said, 'Rahul Gandhi has been raising concerns about electoral malpractice. The Election Commission keeps denying it. He has also said that such irregularities occurred in Karnataka. The Election Commission should take these concerns seriously. In every election, we raise issues regarding voter lists and other matters. The Commission must address them seriously.' On the necessity of conducting a caste census in Karnataka even as the Centre is also undertaking one, Parameshwara explained, 'We are conducting the census for our own state. There is no conflict between the Centre and the state. The Centre has announced its census, and we are proceeding with ours based on the parameters relevant to Karnataka.' He added that the Centre's exercise is limited to population and statistical data, while the state's survey would assess broader parameters including education. 'Censuses were conducted over many years in the past. Now, with modern methods, surveys can be completed more quickly,' he said. When asked about reports of an officer requesting to be relieved from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged mass graves at a Hindu pilgrimage centre, Parameshwara said, 'I am not aware of any official communication. I have only seen media reports. Unofficially, I heard that the officer submitted a letter requesting to be dropped from the SIT for personal reasons. If needed, he can be replaced.' Regarding the recent murder of a father and son, who were BJP leaders from Bengaluru, in Andhra Pradesh, Parameshwara said the police in the respective state are investigating the case. 'Since the victims are from Karnataka, the Andhra Police will come here and we will fully cooperate. Ultimately, the accused must be tracked down,' he added.
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- New Indian Express
CID arrests kingpin in interstate kidney racket, 17 held so far
HYDERABAD: CID officials on Wednesday took Pradeep Kumar Gupta, a key accused in the interstate kidney racket, into custody. Pradeep and another accused in the case, Pamulapati Pavan Kumar alias Leon, were later produced before the LB Nagar court. Both were sent to judicial remand. Police said 17 others have been arrested earlier in the case. According to CID, Pavan, along with other accused arranged illegal kidney transplants at Alakananda, Janani and Aruna Hospitals in Hyderabad. He had a network of brokers in Tamil Nadu to scout for poor donors and others in Bengaluru and Haryana to identify recipients willing to pay large sums. For each transplant, Pavan collected a commission of around Rs 15 lakh. Pradeep sourced recipients from Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra, coordinating with Pavan to arrange surgeries. He received Rs 10 lakh per transplant and facilitated procedures for at least 10 patients.
