Mother of Sowjanya files PIL in K'taka HC seeking 74 separate FIRs in Dharmasthala deaths case
Bengaluru: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Karnataka High Court by Kusumavathi, mother of the late Sowjanya, seeking court directions to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to register 74 separate FIRs and conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged unnatural deaths reported in Dharmasthala between 1990 and 2021.
The petition claims that the bodies of several unidentified persons were allegedly buried in the Dharmasthala region over a span of 31 years. Despite multiple appeals from families of victims, the SIT has allegedly failed to initiate individual cases or act on the detailed representations made earlier.
Details of the petition
According to the plea, the petitioner and other affected families had submitted a written request to the SIT on October 11, 2025, demanding separate FIRs for all 74 cases. The submission reportedly included detailed information such as dates, locations, UDR (Unnatural Death Report) numbers, and burial sites.
However, as no action was taken, the families have now approached the High Court. The PIL names the SIT as a respondent and seeks judicial oversight to ensure an impartial and effective investigation free from external influence.
Key prayers in the PIL
The petitioner has requested the court to:
Direct the SIT to register individual FIRs for all 74 alleged unnatural death cases and assign separate case numbers.
Appoint individual investigating officers for each case, ensuring personal accountability.
Use scientific tools such as ground-penetrating radar to locate burial sites, exhume remains for forensic examination, and conduct DNA and physical matching tests with missing person reports.
Identify victims through forensic pathology and record witness statements to trace possible perpetrators.
Publish public notices in at least three widely circulated newspapers (in Kannada and English) and on a government website with details such as the date, location, gender, and age of each case, enabling families of missing persons to contact the SIT.
Submit monthly progress reports on the investigation to the High Court.
Clarification by petitioner
The PIL emphasises that it does not seek to interfere with or criticize the functioning of the SIT. Instead, it calls for judicial supervision to ensure that the investigation proceeds “without political, social, or external pressures” and within the “framework of law and justice.”
The case is yet to be listed before a division bench of the Karnataka High Court for hearing.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Belagavi youth’s murder case projected as road accident, cracked in Uttara Kannada; Three arrested
Karwar: Uttara Kannada police have cracked a murder case in which a Belagavi youth was killed and his body burnt inside a car to make it appear like a road accident.
Addressing a press meet in the city, Superintendent of Police Deepan M.N. said three accused from Old Hubballi have been arrested in connection with the case. The crime was a pre-planned act driven by personal enmity, he said.
The case came to light on April 8 morning when a car (KA-04/MJ-8996) was found completely burnt in a roadside ditch near Talekumbri bus stand in Yellapur. Only charred human remains were found inside the vehicle. Initially, it was suspected to be an accident caused by overspeeding, and a case was registered at Yellapur police station based on a complaint filed by the deceased’s father, Jagannath Dhapale.
However, the father later expressed suspicion that his son’s death was not accidental, prompting a detailed investigation.
Taking the matter seriously, two special teams were formed under the leadership of Yellapur Inspector Ramesh Hanapur. On analysing technical evidence and CCTV footage, police found that it was a planned murder.
The accused have been identified as Abdul Raheem Basheer Ahmed Mujawar (32), Maulasab Bavahan Wada (36) and Dadapeer alias Aftab Mehboob Saab Balasangi (22), all chicken traders from Old Hubballi.
Police have seized the car used in the crime along with two scooters. The accused have been remanded to judicial custody.
Investigations revealed that the accused killed Nitesh Dhapale due to personal enmity and later set the car on fire along with the body to project it as an accident.
SP Deepan M.N. appreciated the efforts of Inspector Ramesh Hanapur, PSIs Rajashekhar Vandali and Siddappa Gudi, and the entire team for solving the complex case.
