A day after the special investigation team (SIT) identified several spots in Karnataka’s Dharmasthala where a sanitation worker claimed he had buried bodies, advocate N Manjunath — who represents Sujatha Bhat, mother of missing medical student Ananya Bhat — has sought the immediate arrest of panchayat Vice President Shrinivas Rao.
Shrinivas Rao had earlier claimed that all burials in Dharmasthala were conducted officially with proper documentation, and that records existed for exhumation if relatives came forward later. According to the lawyer, the sites identified by the whistleblower in the case on Monday, July 28 — “treacherous and scattered locations” near the river — completely contradict Shrinivas Rao’s version of events and indicate a coverup.
The advocate alleged that the panchayat Vice-President has tried to mislead the public and should be arrested if remains are retrieved from any of these marked spots. His arrest could reveal the nexus between the panchayat and “those responsible” for the crime, he said.
The whistleblower, a former sanitation worker at Dharmasthala temple, led the SIT to at least 13 alleged burial sites, where he claimed to have buried the bodies upon instructions from his superiors. Of this, 12 sites were in forest areas.
A Forest Department official stated that it’s not possible to enter the forest area without proper permission, let alone hold a funeral there. He, however, added that there might not be a strict watch around the area as it is a prominent pilgrim spot. Exceptions in rules are meant only for tribals, that too in designated areas close to their hamlets. Rules are especially strict in case of wildlife sanctuaries, he said.
According to the complainant, between 1995-2014, he secretly buried many bodies, mostly women and children. He claimed that some of deceased had marks of sexual assault. The site identification process took place in the presence of revenue, forest, and officials from other relevant departments.
“The burial sites identified are in hazardous, dangerous and difficult-to-access locations where no sane panchayat administration would bury bodies,” Manjunath said in his press release. “How could the panchayat safely escort grieving families to these sites if exhumation was ever needed?”
“We demand the immediate arrest of Shrinivas Rao, Vice President of Dharmasthala Gram Panchayat, the moment human remains are recovered from these sites. As someone who has actively tried to mislead the public and potentially obstruct a murder investigation, Rao likely possesses crucial information about the actual perpetrators behind these murders, the systematic cover-up operation, and the nexus between panchayat officials and those responsible,” the lawyer said in a press release.
