He called for a detailed review of every officer who had been posted in the jurisdiction from the time the first known case emerged.
Published Aug 01, 2025 | 11:25 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 01, 2025 | 11:25 AM
The human skeletal remains were found at the sixth site identified by the whistleblower. (Screengrab)
Synopsis: Former Karnataka DG/IGP RK Dutta called for a thorough and meticulous probe into why local police personnel in Dharmasthala failed to act for decades. Dutta urged the current police leadership to go beyond the surface in their investigation.
Responding to the ongoing investigation into the alleged serial sexual abuse and burial of humans near Dharmasthala, former Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG/IGP) Rupak Kumar Dutta called for a thorough and meticulous probe into why local police personnel failed to act for decades.
Dutta, who previously served at the highest levels of the state police, expressed disbelief over how repeated incidents of such a grave nature could go unnoticed by local law enforcement.
“I started the new beat policing scheme in 2017. I don’t understand how the police station was not aware. Forget the SP (Superintendent of Police) level, but the local police station should be aware. I am not saying something has happened; what I am saying is that from the news, over a while, the local police station may very well get to know about it,” he told South First.
Referring to recent reports and emerging details about the case, Dutta questioned how such long-standing crimes could remain hidden, suggesting that constables and lower-rank officers, who typically stay posted in the same area for years, may have had some knowledge, even if not directly involved.
“Constables normally stay in one post for five to seven years, and they are all around. It is not that the information does not get to them. I am not saying that they are involved, but what I am saying is that it should be found out from each person (whether they were aware), it should be looked into very meticulously,” he said.
Dutta urged the current police leadership to go beyond the surface in their investigation. Specifically, he called for a detailed review of every officer who had been posted in the jurisdiction from the time the first known case emerged.
“If I were in the place of Mohanty, I would have looked into the entire police force, whoever posted there from the first case onwards, and I would have found out who the people were, who might have known. Every police personnel member also needs to be interrogated. All those police personnel of that police station concerned need to be interrogated,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of documentary evidence, Dutta said all records, including Station House Diaries (SHDs), must be examined thoroughly.
“All the records and all the station house diaries need to be checked. Some complaints would have come, and everything would have been registered. It is a herculean task, and if they do superficial work, nothing will come out,” he said.
Dutta also admitted to a sense of personal guilt, stating that he, too, served in senior roles during this period but was unaware of the incidents. “I feel guilty. I was there in 2017. I am thinking why it did not come to my knowledge. Understandably, it might not be known at a very high level, sometimes even at the SP level. However, I don’t understand how the police station was not aware of such an allegation,” he said.
Calling for the formation of a large, dedicated team to carry out the investigation, he emphasised that each officer should be assigned specific tasks to ensure accountability and depth.
Dutta remarked that even though many years have passed, if any recent burial sites are discovered, they could still provide crucial forensic leads. “If there are recent bodies, perhaps things can emerge easily. At least the tissues will be there,” he said.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
