Complaint filed before High Court judges alleging attempts to obstruct Dharmasthala SIT probe
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Bengaluru: Serious allegations have emerged that organised efforts are being made to weaken the functioning of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged mass burials, disappearances, and suspicious deaths in Dharmasthala. A complaint has been submitted to judges of the Karnataka High Court seeking registration of a suo motu case in this regard.
The petition was filed by Raghu Janagere, a member of the “Lanchmukta Karnataka Nirmana Vedike,” who has also forwarded a copy to the Chief Justice of India, Justice B.R. Gavai. The letter was addressed to Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru.
In his submission, Janagere urged the High Court to take immediate suo motu cognisance of the matter. He alleged that vested interests were exerting pressure to derail the SIT’s ongoing investigations.
The SIT was constituted by the Karnataka government on July 19, 2025, following allegations that hundreds of bodies had been illegally buried in Dharmasthala over the years. The team was tasked with investigating cases of disappearances and suspicious deaths spanning the last 25 years. Among these is the infamous October 9, 2012 case involving the rape and murder of 17-year-old Soujanya, which remains unresolved despite sustained protests by activists.
The complaint further alleged that attempts were being made to prevent victims and activists from approaching the SIT. Instead, police complaints were being filed against them to intimidate families and witnesses, thereby creating a climate of fear.
Notable activists such as Mahesh Shetty Timarodi, Girish Mattannavar, Sameer M.D., and Jayanth have been named in multiple police cases. Even Sujata Bhatt, reportedly suffering from psychological trauma, has been targeted in this manner, the petition claimed.
Janagere alleged that this was the result of collusion between vested interests and certain police officials, aimed at weakening the SIT’s work. He requested the High Court to monitor the case under the supervision of a retired judge to ensure impartiality.
The petition also sought strict directions to the police to prevent misuse of the system against activists, victims, and witnesses.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
