Dharmasthala row: Uproar over activist’s claim that 'CM Siddaramaiah committed 28 murders'; home minister orders suo motu case

BENGALURU: The assembly Monday witnessed heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches over the ongoing probe into alleged mass burials in Dharmasthala, forcing the speaker to adjourn the proceedings.

Opposition BJP accused governing Congress of constituting a special investigation team (SIT) under pressure from the party high command and what it termed as ultra-leftist forces, even as the govt maintained that formation of SIT was based on due legal process.

Replying to the debate, home minister G Parameshwara said SIT was not set up at the behest of Congress leadership. "A person went to Dharmasthala police station and filed a complaint, stating that he had received threats to his life and was forced to bury the bodies," he told the House. tnn

He said he had filed a complaint, alleging that many people, including men and women who were sexually assaulted, were buried," the minister told the House.

Responding to queries on the progress of the probe, Parameshwara said: "So far, only exhumation work has been undertaken. Samples have been sent for DNA and soil analysis. The digging took place at multiple sites. At one location, a skeleton was found, while bones were found at another. These have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL)." He said only once the lab analysis is complete can the probe move ahead.

The skull produced by the complainant at the beginning of the case had also been sent for forensic testing, he added.

Defending the decision to protect the complainant and not to keep him in custody, unlike what the opposition has demanded, Parameshwara explained: "The complainant has been given protection under the Witness Protection Act. The committee headed by the principal district judge, along with the superintendent of police and the public prosecutor, has granted protection to him and his family. Hence, it is not possible to arrest him."

The BJP, however, insisted that the SIT was politically motivated, with opposition leader R Ashoka saying: "SIT was formed in a hurried manner, at the instance of the Congress high command, with ultra-leftists influencing decision making."

BJP member Vijayendra alleged that organisations opposed to the Dharmasthala temple were behind the controversy and were also targeting BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh and RSS leaders.

Demanding accountability from the govt, Ashoka said: "This mess has been created by the Congress govt, which acted irresponsibly from the beginning. There should be accountability. People's belief has been hurt. The CM needs to apologise to the people of the state."

The remarks triggered pandemonium, with Congress members storming into the well of the House in protest, urging speaker UT Khader to expunge the allegations from the records, including those against the party high command.

As the bedlam continued, the Speaker adjourned the House.