Saralnama
A man who alleged he was forced to bury hundreds of raped and murdered women in Dharmasthala, Karnataka, has been arrested for perjury by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The man, who worked as a temple cleaner from 1995 to 2014, made the claims in a police complaint and magistrate statement, producing a human skull as evidence. The temple administration denied the allegations. The SIT conducted excavations at multiple sites identified by the man, finding some human remains sent for forensic testing, but concluded the evidence did not support his claims. The arrest followed extensive investigation and cross-questioning, which led the SIT to determine the man had provided false information. The case sparked political controversy in Karnataka, with opposition parties accusing the government of defaming the temple, while the temple’s chief administrator welcomed the inquiry and expressed confidence in the investigation. The government stated it seeks the truth and justice, regardless of the outcome. The man’s identity was withheld, and he had appeared publicly masked. The allegations and subsequent probe have drawn significant media attention and political debate in the state. (Updated 23 Aug 2025, 17:23 IST; source: link)