Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Orders Fresh Probe Into 2012 Dharmasthala Case
A 17-year-old girl went missing in 2012 after leaving college.
Her body was found in a nearby forest the next day.
Police first investigated, and the case was later given to the CBI.
The CBI accused Santhosh Rao, but a Bengaluru court acquitted him in 2023.
The girl’s family and activists believed the case needed to be investigated again.
After the Karnataka High Court rejected a reinvestigation petition, the girl’s mother appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has now ordered a completely new investigation.
Activists welcomed the decision, while Dharmasthala also said it supported justice and a fair inquiry.
The new investigation is expected to be completed within three months.
The Supreme Court ordered a fresh, de novo investigation into the 2012 rape-murder case.
Activists welcomed the order as a major victory after 14 years of campaigning.
The new investigation must reportedly be completed within three months, with a report submitted to the court.
The CBI had earlier chargesheeted Santhosh Rao, who was acquitted by a Bengaluru court in 2023.
Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala welcomed the reinvestigation but alleged that vested interests had targeted its reputation.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, the girl’s family, activists, investigating agencies, Santhosh Rao, and Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala are involved in the case.
- What
- The Supreme Court ordered a fresh, de novo investigation into the 2012 rape-murder case.
- When
- The girl went missing on October 9, 2012; her body was found on October 10, and the fresh-investigation order came 14 years later.
- Where
- The incident occurred in Belthangady taluk, near Dharmasthala; the earlier trial took place in Bengaluru.
- Why
- The girl’s family and activists challenged the earlier investigation, while the Supreme Court’s order followed an appeal by her mother after the Karnataka High Court rejected a reinvestigation petition.
Activists and Family
Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala
Need for a new investigation
Activists and Family
Activists and the family argued that the earlier investigation was inadequate and welcomed a Supreme Court-supervised fresh probe.
Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala welcomed the fresh investigation and said it should be impartial, transparent, and bring the case to a logical conclusion.
Public campaign surrounding the case
Activists and Family
Activists said they had campaigned for 14 years to secure justice and ensure that those responsible were punished.
Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala alleged that vested interests had conducted a sustained campaign to tarnish its image.
- Incident
- A 17-year-old college student went missing on October 9, 2012, and her body was found in a nearby forest on October 10.
- Initial investigation
- Belthangady police began investigating and arrested Santhosh Rao on October 11, 2012.
- CBI transfer
- The case was transferred to the CBI on March 7, 2013, after concerns were raised about the police investigation.
- Earlier outcome
- Santhosh Rao was acquitted by a Bengaluru court on June 16, 2023.
- High Court decision
- The Karnataka High Court dismissed the girl’s father’s reinvestigation petition on August 30, 2024.
- Fresh probe deadline
- The new investigation is to be completed within three months, with a report submitted to the Supreme Court.