Beltangadi, July 15: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the high-profile Dharmasthala mass burial case has submitted its final report to the Beltangadi court. The report, comprising approximately 7,000 pages, was presented in 12 distinct volumes to Additional Civil Judge Shashank Nagendra Bhat.
This comprehensive report includes statements from 255 witnesses, findings from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and various related documents. Additionally, the SIT provided a 4TB hard drive containing video recordings of witness statements.
Items seized during the investigation, such as skeletal remains, bones, mobile phones, and other materials sent for forensic examination, have also been submitted to the court following the completion of the investigation.
Chinnaiya, the key figure in the case, appeared in court alongside his wife during the report’s submission. The case took a new turn when Chinnaiya, known as the ‘Mask Man,’ claimed that he was used in a conspiracy to defame Dharmasthala, a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site in Karnataka.
He alleged that there was a plan to frame Virendra Hegde, the religious head of Dharmasthala, and that ₹200 crore had been arranged for his imprisonment. Chinnaiya’s petition also named actor Prakash Raj, claiming he was promised ₹50 lakh if the conspiracy succeeded.
Chinnaiya approached the Karnataka High Court, asserting that he was part of a larger scheme to tarnish Dharmasthala’s reputation. He has urged the SIT to complete its investigation and take action against those allegedly involved.
He further alleged that after filing a complaint about a skull found, he was taken to a resort in Kerala, where he was reportedly instructed by Prakash Raj, who spoke to him in Tamil, to provide a specific statement as per the directions of Girish Mattannavar.
Chinnaiya claimed he was threatened with harm to his wife if he did not disclose information about certain locations to the SIT.
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