Magistrate begins recording second part of Chinnayya’s statement under 183

Belthangady 

C N Chinnayya’s statement recording under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) before the magistrate that began on Tuesday (September  23) has continued on Thursday (September 25).  Chinnayya appeared before the Belthangady court in the noon hours. 

Chinnayya  who is accused in Dharmasthala mass burial case is also the complainant in the same case. He first filed complaint in Dharmasthala police station alleging he was coerced to bury bodies illegally. He also recorded the statement before the magistrate in this connection. Based on his statement the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed on July 19 conducted exhumation in 15 places and found two skeletal remains. One at 6th spot and one on the surface of the earth at 11A. 

After the operation, Chinnayya was arrested by the SIT on perjury and forgery and is now currently under judicial custody. His bail petition was also rejected by the Belthangady court. On September 19, the magistrate scheduled statement recording but he did not turn up.  High Court judge, Justice M Nagaprasanna during a hearing of a Writ of Mandamus in the mass burial case expressed surprise as to why magistrate did not record the statement. After that fresh date was given. 

The source in the Home Ministry said there are  only two persons (magistrate and Chinnayya) in the court hall during the recording of the statement. As magistrate has not completed this exercise on Tuesday, it is being done today.