Chinnayya. Image Credit: Times of India
Chinnayya secures bail, but barred from talking to media
Bengaluru
C N Chinnayya, complainant and accused in Dharmasthala mass burial case was granted conditional bail on Monday by Mangaluru District and Sessions Court. He was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on the charges of perjury and forgery on August 23.
According to sources, the court, while granting bail, barred him from speaking in public. This is one of the conditions laid out by the court before granting bail. This development comes three days after SIT submitted a complaint report in Belthangady court on Thursday (November 20, 2025) in the mass burial case.
The sources said the judge directed the accused not to talk in public. If he talks to the media violating the condition, his bail may be cancelled.
Chinnayya who filed a complaint in Dharmasthala police station on July 3 was also extended witness protection under the witness protection scheme. In his complaint he alleged that he was coerced to bury dead bodies of human beings subjected to violence. He also recorded a statement before Belthangady court under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Following his complaint and statement, a First Information Report (FIR) (39/2025) was registered. The Karnataka government to probe into the allegations constituted SIT on July 19. The SIT that began investigation, first carried out exhumation operations and found two skeletal remains. During this operation Chinnayya claimed that these bodies were not handled by him. He also later claimed that he lied under oath and his statements under 183 were false. He alleged that Soujanya activists, Girish Mattannavar, Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi, Jayanth T and Vittal Gowda forced him to record false statements. He also claimed that the skull that was presented in the court as evidence was not secured by him from the crime scene but was handed over to him by an activist.
The SIT then arrested Chinnayya making him the accused in the case. He is the only accused in the case. The SIT interrogated both Chinnayya and activists. The activists were questioned as witnesses. After about 13 days of questioning he was sent to judicial custody. He also recorded another statement under 183 as a counter to the first accusing activists of forcing him to lie.
SIT has become a joke now… Either SIT will uncover part of the truth, or the government will fall
What a joke! This is very strange that he is barred from speaking to media. This is well planned strategy to probably allow the people who Chinnayya accused in his first 183 statement to eliminate him silently!!? This is snatching his fundamental right! Looks like SIT executed a big conspiracy to turn the complainant to accused like every other rape, murder case in Dharmasthala(ex., Vedavalli, Padmalatha). This is a sign of burying the truth where 100s of victims bodies’re buried in dharmatahala forest area and across Netravathi river. Hope Mnajunatha Seamy and Annappa Swamy will punish SIT for this alleged conspiracy!
Such a massacre of fundamental right of an Indian Citizen. Why should he be objected from speaking in public. Why is court doing this ?
Is “someone” above the constitution of India..
What is “their” fear ????