By: Akanksha
A local cemetery worker and two staff members from a private medical college in Raichur, Karnataka, have been arrested for allegedly exhuming buried human skeletons and smuggling the bones from Maruti Nagar cemetery on Mantralaya Road to the Navodaya Medical College Hospital and Research Centre.
Police suspect the criminals had been running the operation for more than two or three years before residents caught the men on Friday afternoon and authorities arrested them over the weekend.
The accused men supplied skeletal remains to medical students for academic and research purposes in exchange for ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 per body. However, police have not yet independently established the alleged supply chain to Navodaya Medical College. According to Salar News, investigators said the claim that the remains were being supplied to the college came from the accused and required further verification.
The gravedigger would target bodies that had been buried for six months or more. He would then secretly dig up the skeletons, put them into plastic bags and give them to the college staff, and immediately cover the graves back up to hide the theft.
The accused have been identified as Veeresh Talawara Anjaneya, 28, a maintenance worker and gravedigger, Raju Narasappa, 35, and MD Afsar Junimiya, 32.
Police stated that Raju and Afsar work at Navodaya Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Raichur, and were in regular contact with Veeresh. According to some reports, the arrests took place on Saturday, while some claim that the arrests occurred on Sunday following initial detentions.
A separate report by Siasat, published on October 26, stated that an FIR had been registered against four people, with three arrested and a fourth suspect, identified as Huligeppe, still absconding. The report described Huligeppe as another graveyard assistant and a friend of Eeresh, the name used in that report for Veeresh. This additional suspect's identity and status should be confirmed with Raichur police.
The activity was uncovered when two men were seen digging up a skeleton from a grave in Maruthi Nagar cemetery (also known as Maruthi Nagar Lingayat Samaja cemetery) in Ward No. 13 behind the Akashvani building on Mantralaya Road. The incident took place around 2:30 p.m. on Friday. Local businessman Jagadeesh and his friend Vinod Kumar noticed two men digging up a skeleton and putting it into a plastic bag. When confronted, the men fled, but Jagadeesh recognized Veeresh and confronted him the next day.
Veeresh admitted to digging up human skeletons in order to sell them to medical students. Police investigated the area after locals complained and found that skeletons were being dug up and moved.
Since the graves were being filled back in after the crime many families were unaware that their family members’ graves had been disturbed.
A report by Siasat on October 26 added that police had inspected both the cemetery and the medical college, reportedly recovering and seizing bones and skeletal remains during the college inspection. The report also said investigators had seized the accused persons' mobile phones and sent them for forensic examination. Police were reportedly preparing to issue a notice to the institution. The origin of the recovered remains and their connection to the alleged racket remain to be established.
The police believe that the illegal activity has been going on for years. As reported by The Indian Express, a police officer explained the suspect’s method: “As Veeresh worked in the cemetery, he was aware of the bodies that were buried and often chose bodies that were buried at least six months back. It appears this business has been going on for more than two or three years but has only come to light now.”
“Veeresh used to sell it to buy liquor and for his expenses,” he added.
The buyers allegedly agreed to pay ₹3,000 for each skeleton and gave a ₹700 advance to Veeresh. Raichur Superintendent of Police Arunangshu Giri said that videos showing people desecrating the graves have also circulated on social media, and investigators are looking into whether Veeresh handed the exhumed human remains directly to the other accused.
SP Giri addressed the financial claims in a report to Hindustan Times, “There are also allegations that small amounts of money, reportedly ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000, were paid in exchange for the remains. However, these claims, including the alleged financial transactions and the involvement of the college personnel, require independent verification.” As reported by Salar News, SP Giri further added that police are now trying to establish how long the alleged activity had been taking place and whether other individuals were involved.
Locals have been left terrified by the shocking revelations. They said that they found bones, such as skulls, lying around the cemetery. This caused rumours in the community about ghosts.
Local resident B. Basavaraj Suryaday said that they had complained to police multiple times but nothing had been done.
“The removal of human remains from graves at Maruti Nagar cemetery has been happening for several years under cover of darkness. Even the bodies buried in the graveyard have no peace,” Suryaday told Hindustan Times.
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Raichur Deputy Commissioner Poovitha S. responded to allegations that residents' earlier complaints had gone unaddressed, telling Salar News that officers visited the spot immediately after receiving Friday’s complaint.
“At present, they have stated that they supply the skeletal remains to Navodaya Medical College. We will investigate this claim as well. Based on the findings, we will examine the statements and determine who should face action,” she stated in the report to Hindustan Times.
She further noted, as reported by Salar News, that investigators are working to verify “where the skeletal remains are being transported, where they are being sold, which colleges are receiving them, and for what purpose the skeletal remains are being used.”
Police sources remain cautious about the accused men’s statements, noting that they need proper evidence to map out the exact supply chain and confirm whether other hospital or college staff were involved. An investigating officer told The Indian Express, “Prima facie, it appears that the bones were being used for academic purposes in the college, but we are yet to find the exact reason. We are also trying to find out how frequently the bones were being smuggled.” The officer pointed out that medical institutions are legally permitted to source human bones only through voluntary body donations, unclaimed bodies, and authorized cadavers.
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A formal case has been registered at the Netaji Nagar police station under Sections 301 and 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, charging the men with trespassing on burial places, theft, and receiving stolen property.
(Rh/APC/MSM)