Religious Sites in India – From Symbols of Peace to Crime Scenes? A Shocking Whistleblower Revelation from Karnataka
 |
| Credit: CJP Research |
Religious disputes in India have now crossed a dangerous line. Once confined to community gatherings and social spaces, these conflicts are now penetrating courtrooms. What was once a question of faith and tradition is becoming a matter of law and justice.
But what if we told you that religious places—once considered sanctuaries of harmony and devotion—are now emerging as crime scenes? This is not a fictional tale but a disturbing reality surfacing from Karnataka’s Dharmasthala, a temple revered for decades as a symbol of service, spirituality, and peace. Today, this sacred site is at the center of a chilling controversy that questions not only the sanctity of religion but also the very integrity of our policing and administrative systems.
At the heart of this explosive revelation is a Dalit whistleblower, formerly employed as a sanitation worker under the temple administration. His claims are not just shocking—they’re spine-chilling. He alleges a systematic cover-up involving multiple rapes, murders, and illegal disposal of bodies within the temple’s premises, allegedly orchestrated by powerful individuals connected to the temple administration and local authorities.
From Sacred Grounds to Graveyards of Horror
According to the whistleblower, who worked at the temple from 1995 to 2014, he personally buried and even burned bodies of women and girls—many showing signs of sexual assault and brutal violence. Initially, he assumed the bodies were victims of suicide or accidental drowning. However, he later realized the horrifying truth: these were not accidents but deliberate killings.
He narrates a particularly haunting incident:
“One case has scarred me forever. Around 2010, I was ordered to dispose of the body of a schoolgirl, aged 12 to 15, found half a kilometer from a petrol station in Kaleri. She was in her school uniform, but her skirt and undergarments were missing. The body bore clear signs of sexual assault and strangulation. I buried her along with her school bag.”
In another case, he describes:
“The body of a 20-year-old woman, her face burned with acid and wrapped in newspapers, was handed over to me for burial.”
He further states that the majority of the bodies were of women, many of them naked, and bore marks of assault, strangulation, and other injuries.
Threats, Torture, and a Systemic Cover-Up
When the whistleblower initially refused to comply and threatened to approach the police, he was allegedly brutally assaulted by his supervisor. Thereafter, he claims, a horrifying pattern emerged—a crime ring operating within and around the temple, involving rapes, murders, and clandestine disposal of bodies without any legal procedure. According to him, the perpetrators included individuals associated with the temple administration, and possibly influential local politicians and police officials, who allegedly turned a blind eye.
The Letter to the Chief Justice of India
The magnitude of these allegations is so grave that the whistleblower has written a letter to Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud (Correction: In reality, BR Gavai is mentioned as CJI in text), seeking urgent protection under the Witness Protection Scheme 2018. His plea:
“I am ready to undergo a polygraph test or any other procedure to prove the truth. My only demand is protection for me and my family so that the victims’ remains receive dignified last rites and justice is served.”
The whistleblower claims to have submitted photographs of human remains and is willing to lead authorities to the burial sites. Alarmingly, he also alleges that after giving a confidential statement to the police on July 14, his details were leaked and made public via a YouTube video, reportedly by police insiders—a move that not only breaches ethics but could be criminal.
He writes:
“Such leaks compromise the integrity of the investigation and put my life at risk. Despite the video being public for over 11 hours, no action has been taken to identify the source of this internal breach.”
Even more disturbing, he claims that police are now considering withdrawing the witness protection previously granted to him—contradictory behavior that could have deadly consequences.
A Moral Emergency, Not Just a Criminal Case
The whistleblower asserts that he fled Dharmasthala in 2014 after his own minor relative was sexually harassed. Since then, he has lived under a changed identity in a neighboring state, frequently relocating to stay alive. He has now returned, secretly exhumed some human remains, photographed them, and submitted the evidence to the police.
To ensure the truth survives even if he is killed, he has also handed over copies of his complaint, identity documents (including Aadhaar and temple employee ID), and evidence to Supreme Court lawyer K.V. Dhananjay.
Where Does Justice Stand?
So far, a complaint has been registered at Dharmasthala Police Station on July 3 under Section 21(A) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as confirmed by Dakshina Kannada SP Arun K. However, no arrests have been made, and no names of the accused have been officially revealed.
The question now looms large: Is the police truly pursuing justice, or is this yet another case that will be buried under the weight of caste, power, and politics?
Why This Case Matters for India
When a Dalit sanitation worker risks his life to expose such crimes, this is no longer just a legal issue—it is a moral emergency. This case reflects the intersection of caste oppression, institutional impunity, and gender-based violence in India.
The whistleblower’s demands are simple: protection, a polygraph test, and justice. The victims deserve more than silence; they deserve dignity and accountability.
If the judiciary fails to act, this will not be justice delayed, but justice destroyed. The nation now watches: will the truth survive, or will another voice be silenced by the system?
Key Facts at a Glance:
- Location: Dharmasthala, Karnataka
- Whistleblower: Former sanitation worker (Dalit), employed 1995–2014
- Allegations: Multiple rapes, murders, illegal burials within temple grounds
- Evidence: Photographs of human remains, detailed statement to police
- Letter to CJI: Seeking protection under Witness Protection Scheme 2018
- Current Status: FIR registered under BNS Sec 21(A); no arrests yet.
What’s your take on this shocking revelation? Should the judiciary intervene immediately? Let us know in the comments.
