Belthangady, Karnataka – Jayant T, a local activist involved in the ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged illegal mass burials in Dharmasthala, has accused SIT officers of custodial assault, intimidation, and coercion to provide false testimony. He filed a formal complaint on Saturday at Belthangady police station, with copies sent to the state governor and the Director-General of Police (DGP).

Jayant, who has previously campaigned for justice in the 2012 Sowjanya murder case linked to the temple town, claimed that he was summoned for questioning and subsequently subjected to physical and psychological torture inside the SIT office. He named five officers—Jitendra Dayama, SP Simon, DySP R.G. Manjunath, Inspector Manjunath Gowda, and Sub-Inspector Gunapal—alleging they threatened him to provide false statements and brought another complainant, Chinnayya, into the room where both were allegedly assaulted.

According to Jayant’s complaint:

• He was allegedly kept in custody late into the night without food or water.
• His wife and daughter were also summoned and statements were allegedly taken from them under duress.
• No voluntary statement was recorded; the SIT reportedly typed out its own version while summoning him daily.
• He sustained injuries requiring medical treatment at a private hospital in Ujire.
• Threats intensified when he refused to sign fabricated testimony, with officers allegedly warning of arrests against him and associates.

Jayant requested legal action against the named officers under multiple sections of the Karnataka Penal Code, including voluntarily causing hurt, grievous hurt, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and criminal conspiracy. He also sought protection for himself and his family, stating that his complaint should be treated as a dying declaration in case of harm.

The complaint follows the Karnataka High Court lifting an interim stay on the SIT investigation on October 30. Justice Mohammad Nawaz, leading the bench, noted that the inquiry could not remain suspended indefinitely and granted interim protection, directing the SIT not to harass the accused while continuing the investigation. Activists including Jayant T, Girish Mattannavar, Mahesh Shetty Timarodi, and Vitthala Gowda are now expected to be summoned again for interrogation under the FIR number 39 of 2025.

Police have stated that a legal opinion on Jayant’s complaint has been sought and that a decision will follow after the review.

The allegations have renewed attention on the SIT’s conduct in the controversial Dharmasthala investigation, raising questions about procedural fairness, custodial practices, and protection for activists involved in sensitive cases.