Dharmasthala: As a precaution, Chinnayya moves court for protection 

Bengaluru

C N Chinnayya, the complainant-turned-accused in Dharmasthala mass burial case has now prayed the court for protection citing threat to his life. He has also appealed to the court for relaxation from visiting the police station, one of the bail conditions. 

On November 25, Principal District and Sessions Court, Dakshina Kannada granted bail to Chinnayya with 12 conditions including bar from media interaction. The bail condition also mandates him to visit Dharmasthala police station regularly to show his presence. 

Chronology of the case

Complaint filed: On July 3, 2025, Chinnayya, a former sanitation worker, filed a complaint with the Dharmasthala police. He alleged that between 1995 and 2014, he was forced to bury hundreds of bodies, many with signs of sexual assault, and disclosed at least 13 suspected burial sites.

Initial statement recorded under BNSS section 183: On July 11, 2025, Chinnayya recorded his voluntary statement before a magistrate in Belthangady under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). During this testimony, he also produced a skull and some bones as evidence.

SIT established: Amid public outrage, the Karnataka government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations on July 19, 2025.

Arrested for perjury: The SIT arrested Chinnayya on August 23, 2025, for perjury (lying under oath). Forensic tests revealed that the skull he had presented in court was not human, and he later confessed to providing a false statement under coercion.

Second statement recorded: After his arrest, Chinnayya requested a fresh statement. This was done over three sessions on September 23, 25, and 27, 2025, during which he admitted to lying and implicated others.

Activists move for quashing: The activists to protect themselves moved High Court (HC) to quash original FIR (39/2025). The HC granted stay on FIR till November 12. Later, the HC vacated the stay but directed the SIT not to harass the activists.

Bail: Chinnayya was granted  conditional bail on November 25

Chinnayya was arrested on August 23 on the charges of perjury and forgery. For nearly 14 days he was in police custody and for 2.5 months in judicial custody. Although he was granted bail, he continues to languish in prison as no one has given surety.

The sources say that for his safety and as a precautionary measure, the accused has prayed the court for protection. If the same was granted, then the government will have to provide security cover to the accused. 

It may be recalled that Chinnayya was under Witness Protection Scheme before he was accused in the case by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT has now closed investigation into Chinnayya’s complaint and started probing suspicious Unnatural Death Reports (UDRs), missing cases and eight skulls found in Bangle Gudde hillock.