SIT Superintendent of Police Simon and team suffer minor injuries after a vehicle overturns while travelling to an investigation-related meeting
A vehicle carrying SIT Superintendent of Police Simon overturned at a bend on the Charmadi Ghat road in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada district while he was travelling in connection with the Dharmasthala mass burial investigation. The accident has drawn attention because it occurred during an active phase of the high-profile probe.
Mangaluru: SIT Superintendent of Police Simon, who is part of the investigation into the Dharmasthala mass burial case, was injured after the vehicle he was travelling in overturned on the Charmadi Ghat road in Dakshina Kannada district on Monday.
The mishap occurred near a curve on the ghat section in Belthangady taluk while Simon was travelling to meet Chikkamagaluru SP and SIT investigating officer Jeetendra Kumar Dayama to discuss developments in the case.
Police officials said Simon, Inspector Kusumadhar, another police personnel, and the driver sustained minor injuries in the accident. All are reported to be out of danger.
“The injured officers received medical attention immediately, and their condition is stable,” officials said.
Charmadi Ghat accident involving SIT team
The Charmadi Ghat stretch is known for its sharp bends and difficult terrain, especially during monsoon conditions. According to preliminary information, the vehicle lost balance near a curve and overturned.
Emergency responders and local authorities reached the spot quickly and shifted the injured officers for treatment. No fatalities were reported.
The accident has not affected the continuation of the Dharmasthala investigation, police sources said.
Dharmasthala mass burial case remains under scrutiny
The Dharmasthala case has been one of Karnataka’s most closely watched investigations since explosive allegations surfaced in July 2025.
A former sanitation worker, Chinna C.N. alias Chinnayya, had claimed he was forced to bury or burn more than 100 bodies around Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014. The allegations triggered a massive public outcry and led the Karnataka government to constitute a Special Investigation Team.
Excavations were carried out at multiple locations identified by the whistleblower, but investigators did not uncover evidence supporting claims of large-scale mass graves. Partial skeletal remains found at one site were later assessed as unrelated to the allegations.
The case took a dramatic turn when Chinna C.N. was arrested for allegedly furnishing false evidence. In a later petition before the Karnataka High Court, he claimed he had been coached and pressured by activists to make fabricated allegations against the Dharmasthala temple administration.
SIT calls allegations a fabricated conspiracy
In its preliminary report submitted in November 2025, the SIT described the mass burial narrative as a “fabricated conspiracy” intended to malign the reputation of the Dharmasthala temple and its administration.
The report reportedly gave a clean chit to temple authorities regarding the specific allegations and identified several individuals as conspirators in creating what investigators termed a “lie factory.”
Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court has sought status reports from the State Government and SIT regarding the newer conspiracy allegations made by Chinna C.N.
“The investigation is now focused on examining both the original allegations and the subsequent claims of conspiracy surrounding the case,” sources familiar with the probe said.
Investigation continues despite the accident
Police officials confirmed that the SIT’s work on the Dharmasthala case will continue despite the accident involving SP Simon.
The investigation remains active, with authorities examining both the original allegations and the subsequent claims of fabrication and conspiracy surrounding the case.
The accident has added an unexpected development to an already high-profile investigation that continues to attract statewide and national attention.
