Dharmasthala Crimes: SIT gets three-day custody of Chinnayya 

Belthangady 

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mass burial case has secured three-day custody of accused Chinnayya. He was arrested on August 23 on charges of perjury and forgery of evidence. Initially, he was sent to 10-day custody, and this is the second time the SIT has obtained custody.

Sources in the Home Ministry told blrpost.com that “three-day custody is adequate for the investigation. The SIT has presented the progress of the case and requested custody for more days to complete the pending inquiry.”

After his arrest, the SIT interrogated him and conducted a mahazar at Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi’s residence in Ujire, Jayanth T’s residence, and Girish Mattannavar’s residence in Bengaluru. During the interrogation, Chinnayya claimed that the skull he had presented as evidence was given to him by Girish and Jayanth.

Sources said the SIT seized a hard disk containing CCTV footage from Thimarodi’s residence and several documents from Jayanth T’s house. The SIT may also conduct a mahazar at other locations based on his statements regarding the skull.

It may be recalled that the SIT was formed by the State government on July 19 after Chinnayya filed a complaint at the Dharmasthala police station, alleging that he was forced to bury bodies illegally. He also recorded his statement before a magistrate.

The SIT carried out exhumation operations for two weeks and recovered skeletal remains belonging to two human beings. The remains have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Madiwala.