The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday asked the State government to respond to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition. The PIL, filed by Kusumavathi, mother of Soujanya who was raped and murdered in 2012 near Dharmasthala, demands the Special Investigation Team (SIT) register separate FIRs for 74 unnatural deaths in Dharmasthala village from 1990 to 2021. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha heard the petition. Kusumavathi submitted a representation to the SIT on October 11, 2025. The SIT was set up in July 2025 to investigate complaints of mass burials in Dharmasthala. She claimed that in all 74 cases, bodies were buried within 24 hours, violating procedures under the Code of Criminal Procedure and Karnataka rules from 2004. She urged for fresh, proper investigations into these deaths. The court’s order pushes the State government to clarify its stand on proceeding with these claims.