Padmalata rape-murder case: Sister seeks SIT reinvestigation after 39 years

Mangalore Today News Network

Belthangady, Aug 11, 2025: The sister of Padmalata, who was raped and murdered in Dharmasthala village nearly four decades ago, arrived at the Belthangady SIT office on Monday to file a complaint seeking a reinvestigation into the case.

Indravati, Padmalata’s sister, came to the SIT office along with CPM leader B. M. Bhat and others. She said the complaint would be submitted once senior SIT officers arrived at the station.

The crime dates back to 1986, when Padmalata, a resident of Boliyaru, was allegedly raped and murdered. The SIT was formed after an anonymous witness alleged that several bodies related to past crimes in Dharmasthala village had been buried in the area.

Meanwhile, the SIT office in Belthangady has been granted police station status.