Kushalnagar/Mysuru: Pandu Pujari, the legal counsel for Suresh, a tribal man from Kushalnagar in Kodagu district who was wrongfully imprisoned for over a year and a half, has urged the government to remove IPS officer Jitendra Kumar Dayam from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the reported mass burials at Dharmasthala. The request comes amid serious allegations against Kumar regarding his role in fabricating charges in Suresh’s wrongful murder case.
Background: False Murder Charges and Court Acquittal
Suresh, belonging to the Kuruba tribal community, was accused of murdering his wife Mallige based on a case filed after skeletal remains were discovered in Shanabhoganahalli village, Mysuru district, in November 2020. The crucial evidence was a ‘mahazar’ (spot panchanama) prepared by Jitendra Kumar when he was a probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police. The investigating officer, Prakash B.G., arrested Suresh, claiming that the skeletal remains belonged to Mallige.
However, in a dramatic twist, Mallige herself appeared in court to testify that she was alive and had not been killed by anyone. Subsequently, the District and Sessions Court in Mysuru acquitted Suresh on April 23, 2025, ordered his name to be cleared from police records, and directed compensation to be paid to him.
Court Orders Departmental Inquiry and Compensation
The court also directed a departmental inquiry against Jitendra Kumar and three other police officials involved in the case: Prakash B.G., Sub Inspector Mahesh Kumar, and Sub Inspector Prakash Yattimani. It ordered the Superintendent of Police in Mysuru to continue investigating the death related to the unidentified skeletal remains and submit a report.
While the State government suspended Prakash B.G., Mahesh Kumar, and Prakash Yattimani, no action has yet been taken against Kumar, despite court directives and recommendations from the Inspector General of Police, Mysuru Range.
Counsel’s Concerns Over SIT Appointment
In a formal letter addressed to the Home Minister and the Director General of Police, Pandu Pujari highlighted the problematic inclusion of Jitendra Kumar Dayam in the SIT investigating the Dharmasthala mass burial case. Pujari emphasized that given Kumar’s alleged involvement in falsifying evidence and charges against an innocent tribal man, he is not fit to conduct an impartial and transparent investigation.
Pujari expressed deep concern that no departmental or legal action had been initiated against Kumar, questioning the government’s commitment to justice and accountability.
Broader Implications for Justice and Police Accountability
The case underscores ongoing challenges in ensuring fair treatment and protection for tribal communities and highlights the urgent need for police accountability. It raises pressing questions about the integrity of investigations led by officers with questionable past conduct, especially in sensitive cases involving marginalized groups.
