Dharmasthala, a revered town in Karnataka, has become the epicentre of a high-profile forensic investigation following shocking allegations of mass burials involving dozens of women and minors, many exhibiting signs of violence and sexual assault. The controversies surfaced in July-August 2025 when a formal sanitation worker testified to burying numerous bodies under coercion between 1995 and 2014, prompting the state government to appoint a special investigation team (SIT) with police powers to probe the allegations.
Forensics lies at the heart of this case, shaping both the direction and credibility of the investigations. The SIT, accomplished by teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), has meticulously excavated 13 identified burial sites, recovering partial skeleton remains, skulls, and teeth at selected locations. At the same time, most sites yielded no evidence, likely due to soil shifts, heavy rainfall, and the passage of time. These remains were immediately sent for DNA and anthropological analysis essential for victim identification, cause of death estimation and establishing links to alleged crimes.
Legal counsel and forensic experts have advocated for the deployment of advanced Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to detect hidden waves as traditional excavation faces challenges in the altered terrains. Such non-invasive technologies can scan for Subsurface anomalies, increasing the chance of discovering lost evidence and predicting the forensic process.
The case highlights the indispensable role of forensic science in Indian justice, encompassing the preservation of the chain of custody and multidisciplinary laboratory analysis, as well as the application of new technologies under judicial scrutiny. Public and media attention have driven calls for transparency, scientific rigour, and accountability – making the Dhramasthala investigation not only a test for forensic capabilities but also a catalyst for police and procedural reform. As the SIT expands its research and refines its methods, Forensic Science stands at the centre of truth-seeking justice, promising resolution in one of India’s most sensitive criminal probes.