Dharmasthala Case: Skeletal remains found during SIT search at forest

Dharmasthala Case: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala case has reportedly recovered skeletal remains during a search operation in the Banglegudda forest near the Netravati bathing ghat on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

According to reports, the discovery was made in an area that was previously identified as a potential burial site during the investigation. The SIT, accompanied by forensic experts and police officials, has sent the bones for scientific analysis to determine their identity and the cause of death.

The search operation is part of the larger investigation into the Dharmasthala case, which has gained significant public attention. The SIT’s probe has involved excavating multiple sites based on witness testimonies and other evidence. The recovery of new skeletal remains is considered a significant development that could provide crucial leads in the ongoing investigation.

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The case gained widespread attention after a man, identified as a former sanitation worker at the Dharmasthala temple, came forward in July 2025. He claimed that he was coerced into burying or cremating the bodies of over a hundred victims, many of them women and minors who showed signs of sexual assault and violence.

He stated that these incidents occurred between 1995 and 2014, and he was forced to comply under the threat of death. He also claimed to have witnessed the murders of destitute men.