Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that he came across information that one of the officers posted to the SIT wants to be excused for personal reason, on July 24, 2025.
| Photo Credit: H. S. MANJUNATH
Confusion over DCP Soumyalatha’s posting in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of mass burial in Dharmasthala, in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, continues.
Two days after Home Minister G. Parameshwara dismissed reports that some officers sought to avoid the task, on July 24, he said that he came across information that one of the officers wants to be excused for personal reason.
Dr .Parameshwara said that he is aware about Ms. Soumyalatha’s desire to be excused from being a part of the SIT for personal reasons, but there is no official communication yet. “If there is such an issue, she will be replaced,” he said.
While some reports indicated that two members of the SIT had sought to be excused from the investigation citing personal reasons, Dr. Parameshwara said no such request had officially been made.
Pronab Mohanty, who heads the SIT, met the Home Minister on July 21 before formally taking charge. “I haven’t given any instructions to Mohanty. He just met to express his gratitude for giving him the task and promised to work sincerely,” Mr. Parameshwara added.
The government of Karnataka accepted demands from various sections of society to form an SIT to investigate the allegations of mass graves in and around the temple town of Dharmasthala. The SIT was constituted on July 19, with Director General of Police (internal security division) Pronab Mohanty as the head. He will be assisted by DIG (recruitment) M.N. Anucheth, DCP (CAR) Soumyalatha S.K., and SP (ISD) Jitendra Kumar Dayama.
On July 22, the Home Department announced the names of 20 personnel who will be part of the SIT. The order directed the officials concerned to provide logistics, including required office space and vehicles, to the SIT.
Published – July 24, 2025 03:15 pm IST
