Don’t Let Justice Fly Away: Dharmasthala Accused Must Be Stopped From Evading The Law By Leaving The Country

In recent days, the public conscience has been shaken by disturbing revelations surrounding the long-suppressed rape and murder allegations tied to the Dharmasthala region. The action against whistleblowers by way of FIRs, the surfacing of skeletal remains, and the haunting testimonies of victims have not only reopened old wounds but also exposed the rot festering beneath decades of silence, influence, and unaccountable power.

Now, unconfirmed but persistent reports suggest that the so-called "Don" of the Dharmasthala gang — along with  family members and aides — may be preparing to leave the country, allegedly to escape the growing demands for their arrest and further action. While the government has not officially acknowledged such an attempt, the possibility of flight cannot be dismissed. India has witnessed too many high-profile cases — from economic fugitives to politically connected accused — where culprits have managed to elude the justice system by simply vanishing abroad, aided by silence, connections, and slow-moving agencies.

What makes this moment especially critical is not just the gravity of the alleged crimes, but the growing sentiment on the ground. People are no longer willing to accept half-truths, token arrests, or bureaucratic deflections. If the accused manage to escape, the damage will be far more than reputational — it could trigger a serious law and order situation, especially in coastal Karnataka and parts of the state where public anger is boiling over.

One cannot entirely rule out the possibility of people taking the law into their own hands, a dangerous prospect for any democracy. When institutions fail to act, street justice often fills the vacuum — and that must be avoided at all costs. But the only way to do that is by ensuring that justice is seen to be done, not just promised in statements.

The government must act decisively and transparently:

• Immediate surveillance on all named suspects must be established.
• Look-Out Circulars (LOCs) should be issued, and passports impounded wherever applicable.
• Immigration and airport authorities must be alerted.
• An SIT (Special Investigation Team) with no political affiliations must be constituted to ensure no strings are pulled behind the scenes.

The people of Karnataka — and indeed the entire nation — are watching. They are not only demanding justice for the victims, but also demanding that no one, however powerful, be allowed to flee accountability. If the rule of law is to mean anything, it must begin by preventing the powerful from escaping its reach.

Justice, when delayed or denied, wounds democracy. But justice allowed to abscond wounds it fatally.