Dharmasthala case twist: Whistleblower arrested for fake evidence, skull found to be fabricated

In a major development in the Dharmasthala mass burial case, the key whistleblower who had alleged that dozens of bodies were buried in and around the temple town has been arrested for perjury and providing false evidence, police sources confirmed on Saturday.

The former sanitation worker with the Dharmasthala temple administration, who earlier claimed to have buried 70–80 bodies at multiple locations between 1998 and 2014, was interrogated overnight until 6 am before being taken into custody. Police officials revealed that the human skull he initially produced as proof was fake. He is being booked under charges of perjury and furnishing false evidence.

Out of the 15 suspected sites identified by the whistleblower, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has recovered skeletal remains from only one location—spot number 6—where a male skeleton was found. At other locations, no evidence was recovered despite extensive searches. The whistleblower is being presented before a magistrate this evening after a mandatory medical check-up at a local hospital.

Earlier, the complainant had defended himself by stating that some alleged burial sites may have been lost due to erosion, forest growth, or construction. He also claimed locals had witnessed bodies being buried during daytime hours but had not intervened. The complainant further alleged that several of the bodies he buried bore signs of sexual assault and had given a statement before a magistrate.

Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara had recently told the Assembly that if the SIT found the whistleblower’s allegations false, legal action would be initiated against him. With the arrest, the case has taken a sharp turn, raising questions about the veracity of previous claims and the credibility of the complainant.