The Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Director-General of Police Pronab Mohanty, formed to probe the alleged “sexual abuse, murders and burials” in Dharmasthala, officially took over the case files from the local police on Friday (July 25).
Based on a complaint by a former sanitation worker in the temple town that he was allegedly forced to bury several bodies, an FIR was registered on July 4 and SIT was formed on July 19.
Sources in SIT said that its first step would be to question the complainant in the case who has been provided protection under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018.
“The complainant is at the centre of the case and his questioning will be the first step and based on that the next course of action will be decided,” a source said.
Meanwhile, the local police had sought permission from the court to conduct brain mapping and narco analysis of the complainant, for which he has to give his consent.
Published – July 25, 2025 09:18 pm IST
