Dharmasthala Crimes: SIT sends skeletal remains found at Bangle Gudde to FSL

Belthangady 

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mass burial case has sent multiple skeletal remains, found during a mahajar at Bangle Gudde, to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Madiwala, Bengaluru. The remains were dispatched on Monday.

During the investigation, the SIT discovered that Vittal Gowda had picked up a skull at Bangle Gudde near Netravati bathing point at Dharmasthala village.

Initially, the probe suggested that accused Chinnayya informed Girish Mattannavar about the skull, who then directed Gowda to retrieve it. It was also believed that Gowda had dug the ground to take out the skull. However, further investigation revealed this version to be untrue — Gowda may have acted on his own and had only picked up the skull from the surface without digging. This means the SIT cannot arrest Vittal Gowda under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for grave desecration or illegal exhumation.

A Home Ministry source familiar with the probe told blrpost.com: “During the mahajar at Bangle Gudde, the SIT found skeletal remains belonging to at least two individuals. This was shocking for the investigation team. Officers believe more remains may be present at this desolate site. Since the bones were lying on the surface, the Assistant Commissioner’s presence was not required to collect them. The remains were secured and sent to FSL under tight police security.”

The SIT has continued questioning Jayanth T, Gowda, Mattannavar, Abhishek, and Manaf in connection with the skull. While some mainstream media outlets reported that no skeletal remains were found, sources in the Home Ministry dismissed such reports as “fake.” Home Minister G. Parameshwara also clarified on Monday that media portrayals of the probe and Vittal Gowda differ significantly from the actual investigation.

It may be recalled that Chinnayya was arrested on August 23 and remains in SIT custody. He faces charges of perjury and forgery of evidence related to a skull he produced before a magistrate.

The SIT was constituted on July 19 after Chinnayya lodged a complaint at Dharmasthala police station, alleging he was forced to bury bodies illegally. He later gave his statement before a magistrate. Following this, the SIT conducted exhumation operations for two weeks and recovered skeletal remains belonging to two individuals, which have now been sent to the FSL in Madiwala.