Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case: How Much Money Is Being Spent Daily on the Investigation?

The ongoing probe into the alleged mass burials in the Dharmasthala mass burial case has entered its ninth day, and the cost of the investigation is becoming a matter of public attention.

The daily expense includes salaries, logistics, and operational costs for a massive task force comprising 260 personnel, including 26 SIT officers, 5 forensic science experts, 15 civic workers, 200 police personnel, and several local government officials. One Assistant Commissioner (AC), one Tahsildar, and 5 more officials are also deployed on-site.

According to a local media report, the government is reportedly spending around ₹2 lakh per day on the Special Investigation Team (SIT)-led inquiry. The daily cost breakdown includes:

₹35,000 for meals and snacks

₹25,000 for lodge accommodations for officials

₹30,000 for wages of 15 workers

₹2,000 for workers digging the burial sites

₹20,000 for fuel and vehicle use by police and doctors

₹3,000-₹4,000 for forensic equipment

₹3,000-₹4,000 for temporary tents erected at search locations

Meanwhile, no skeletal remains were found during the SIT's Wednesday search inside a forested area near the ghat. While exhumations at 12 of the 13 identified locations have been completed, the spot number 13 is yet to be searched due to challenges, including a power line running overhead.

The case came to light after a former sanitation worker filed a complaint on July 14, claiming he had been forced to bury multiple bodies near the ghat and was warned not to inform the police. The SIT has since found skeletal remains at two locations, including over 100 bones in one forested spot.

The SIT is considering the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) at certain locations to determine the presence of buried remains before proceeding with further digs. However, a final decision on this is pending.

The findings from the investigation so far:

Spot #1: During the excavation of this site, a PAN card and a RuPay debit card were recovered. The PAN card belonged to a man from Nelamangala who had died of jaundice and was cremated in his own village. The debit card belonged to his mother, who is reportedly alive and well. The recovery of these cards at a suspected burial site is considered a significant lead.

Spot #6: This was the first location where human remains were discovered. The excavation yielded partial skeletal remains, suspected to be of a male. Reports indicate that 15 bones were found at a depth of about four feet, but no skull was recovered. Preliminary forensic opinions suggest the bones were male, but a full forensic examination is pending.

Spot #11/11A: The SIT initially searched at Spot #11 but did not find any remains. However, during a subsequent search, a new location near Spot #11 (referred to as Spot #11A) was identified. At this location, human skeletal remains were found, including a skull and a few bones.

Spot #14: This spot was discovered when the complainant-witness was leading officials to a new site. Human remains, including a skull, a sari, and a pair of male slippers, were found on the ground under a tree, approximately 80 meters away from Spot #11. The SIT has marked this as Spot #14 and has begun exhuming the area. Preliminary reports suggest that the remains are of a male who may have been strangled with a red sari found nearby.