Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady

Beltangady, Nov 21: The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the state government to uncover the truth behind the sensational ‘mass burial’ allegations against Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, has concluded that a gang had fabricated stories claiming that several bodies were buried in Dharmasthala village with the intention of maligning the reputation of the revered temple town.

The SIT submitted its 3,923-page interim report to the Beltangady court on Thursday.

The SIT has named six accused in the case, including Chinnayya from Mandya, who was the first to make the allegations. The SIT is expected to proceed with further action against the accused based on the court’s directions. After hearing the arguments related to the investigation, the judge adjourned the hearing to November 21.

Around 3 pm on Thursday, the SIT team led by Investigation Officer Jitendrakumar Dayama, accompanied by SIT advocates, submitted the interim report to Additional Civil Judge Vijayendra H.T. The report names six individuals—Chinnayya, Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi, Girish Mattannavar, Jayanth T, Vithal Gowda (father-in-law of Soujanya), and Sujatha Bhatt—as accused in the ‘mass burial’ conspiracy.

The nearly 4,000-page report contains details of the investigation from the beginning to the present stage. The report also states that five individuals have not cooperated with the investigation. Despite being summoned twice each, four of them failed to appear. The SIT has requested the court’s direction on further legal steps. The SIT may also file a chargesheet against the accused in the coming days.

For nearly two hours, SIT advocates presented arguments before the judge, explaining the contents of the report and seeking guidance for the next steps in the investigation. The SIT has sought permission to prepare an additional investigation report regarding further probes into the conspiracy.

The investigation into the roles of the six accused—especially the involvement of persons other than the already-arrested Chinnayya—remains unfinished. The SIT asked the court for directions to continue with the pending investigation. As the matter is also before the high court, the SIT sought the Beltangady court’s permission through this interim report. After hearing the arguments, the court will issue appropriate directions for the next phase of the probe.

It may be recalled, Chinnayya, appearing masked earlier, had claimed that numerous crimes had taken place in Dharmasthala village and that he himself had buried several bodies. He claimed to know the exact burial spots and had also said that a human skull had been found in the Dharmasthala forest. His sensational statements went viral. Based on his claims, the Dharmasthala Police registered Crime No. 39/2025 on July 4 under BNS Section 211(1).

On July 11, Chinnayya appeared before the Beltangady court wearing a mask, accompanied by lawyers and supporters. On July 20, the government formed an SIT to conduct a comprehensive investigation. The SIT examined the case through various dimensions and conducted nearly 120 days of investigation.

During the initial inquiry, SIT officers grew suspicious of Chinnayya’s statements. Still, based on his claims, they identified 13 locations in Dharmasthala on July 27 and began excavation on July 28. On July 31, bones were recovered from the sixth location. No significant findings were made at other spots.

On August 5, a clash broke out after allegations surfaced that YouTubers were spreading false information. On August 12, the SIT conducted a drone-based search at the 13th location but found nothing. As suspicions deepened, the SIT intensified questioning of Chinnayya. Eventually, he admitted he was innocent and was only acting on the instructions of masterminds, shifting his position from complainant to accused. One by one, the layers of the conspiracy began to unravel.

In addition, Sujatha Bhatt, who had initially claimed that her daughter Ananya Bhatt had gone missing in Dharmasthala, later confessed that Ananya was not her daughter and that her earlier claims were false. Her contradictory statements and subsequent media scrutiny further confirmed that the entire narrative was part of a planned conspiracy.

The gang allegedly used YouTubers to spread the fabricated story widely. AI-generated fake videos were circulated to create a sensation on social media, causing widespread alarm. It took weeks of investigation to prove that the videos and claims were entirely false.

The SIT report states that the skull at the centre of the case was taken all the way from the Dharmasthala forest to Delhi. Initially, Chinnayya claimed that the skull belonged to Dharmasthala. Later, he said it was bought from a laboratory, revealing multiple versions of the story. During interrogation, he admitted that he had no idea where the skull came from and that it was handed to him by the masterminds. Names of accused Jayanth T and Girish Mattannavar also emerged. The SIT traced details of their travel to Delhi with the skull and their attempt to approach the Supreme Court.

The skull was sent to a forensic lab, and the FSL report has been included in the interim report. The findings of that report have not yet been disclosed.

The report states that Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi had sheltered Chinnayya from the beginning. Thimarodi had even publicly claimed responsibility for supporting him. When the SIT raided his residence, unlicensed weapons were found. Afraid of arrest, he went into hiding briefly before securing anticipatory bail. The SIT has also questioned his family members and those of accused Jayanth. All related information has been submitted to the court along with a request for further directions.

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