Dharmasthala Skeleton Scandal: Revealing a Chilling Trail of Mass Graves, Police Cover-Ups, and a Decades-Old Crime Network

The infamous Dharmasthala skeleton scandal in Karnataka has reached a crucial and chilling turning point, where suspicions are fast turning into undeniable truths. What began as a series of shocking allegations from a single whistleblower is now being confirmed through the grisly discovery of human skeletons and bones buried across multiple locations in and around the revered religious town of Dharmasthala.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case has now excavated at 11 out of a suspected 13 locations and, alarmingly, human skulls, skeletal remains, and even pieces of knotted saris have surfaced from the earth. On Monday, the SIT unearthed yet another skull, bones, and female clothing under an old tree in Bangal Gadde—just 100 meters from the tenth discovery site and, crucially, exactly where the whistleblower claimed. Each new dig appears to confirm the chilling consistency of the insider’s testimony.

Previously, in late July, skull and bone fragments were also found near the Netravati riverbank. All remains have now been sent for advanced forensic analysis to determine their age, gender, and cause of death. But investigators caution that many of the bones are so old that retrieving DNA may prove impossible, though technological methods remain underway.

In a deeper dive, the SIT has started re-examining all unnatural death reports filed between 1995 and 2014. Yet, the search for truth has run into obstruction: many Belthangady police records are missing, altered, or tampered with—pointing at administrative collusion in the cover-up of multiple suspicious deaths, often written off as “natural cases.”

Community activists, including Jayant T., have come forward with additional complaints echoing the whistleblower’s claims. Jayant alleges witnessing the police secretly burying the body of a minor girl in 2002—no postmortem, no paperwork—exactly the pattern revealed by earlier testimonies and evidence. The SIT is now re-interviewing former witnesses and pursuing all angles, from temple trust members to retired policemen and influential local figures.

So far, most skeletons identified appear to be adult males, but clues from clothing and other evidence suggest that minors and women may also be among the victims. The SIT warns that the true extent of the crime—both in numbers and years—could be much larger than currently known.

Adding to the intrigue and urgency, the whistleblower at the center of the investigation has faced threats and intimidation, prompting the Karnataka government and senior officials to step up his protection amidst increasing pressure and public scrutiny.

The case is rapidly evolving beyond a religious-site scandal to reveal a vast, sinister network that allegedly perpetrated and concealed mass killings for years, hiding behind faith and silence. The SIT helpline established at the Belthangady police station has received 47 calls to date, with 12 considered significant leads for further investigation.

Now, the key questions are no longer “Did this really happen?” They are:

How many lost their lives?
How many families will get justice?
Will Karnataka’s sacred land ever recover from the scars of such systemic horror?
And ultimately, will the state government deliver the truth and accountability the victims deserve?

As each layer gets peeled back, one thing becomes clear: the Dharmasthala skeleton scandal is not just a crime, but a grim mirror of decades-long silence, faith misused, and a system in desperate need of transparency and reform.