Chinnayya. Image Credit: Times of India
Not chargesheet, Dharmasthala SIT to file complaint report today or tomorrow
Bengaluru
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mass burial and other findings will be submitting a complaint report on Thursday or Friday. It must be noted that it is not a chargesheet.
As the investigation pertains to perjury, the investigation agency has to file a complaint report before the Belthangady magistrate under Section 215 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNNS). The SIT’s complaint report is limited to accused C N Chinnayya’s alleged perjury and role of Sowjanya activists including Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi and Girish Matttannavar. The SIT has not made any arrest apart from Chinnayya who is still under judicial custody.
Chronology
- 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 to record 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.
- SIT issues notices: SIT then issued notices to activists under Section 35 (3) of the BNNS to appear for enquiry
- 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.
The sources in the Home Department talking to blrpost.com said the report was completed on Wednesday and is likely to be submitted today or tomorrow. The complaint report was prepared after SIT conducted a painstaking investigation into Chinnayya’s first and second statements made under Section 183 of the BNNS in the Belthangady court. A comprehensive complaint report contains several aspects about Chinnayya’s lies made before the court under oath and alleged forgery committed by the activists by presenting a skull as false evidence.”
It may be recalled that Chinnayya, while recording his first 183, presented a skull claiming that it belonged to a female victim, subjected to violence. However, during the investigation it was found that the skull was picked-up from a place called Bangle Gudde in Dharmasthala by an activist identified as Vittal Gowda and handed over to Chinnayya. The forensic analysis conclusively found that the skull belonged to a male human being and not a woman.
The source further said after submission of complaint report, the magistrate at his/her discretion, conducts a preliminary inquiry to establish a prima facie case of perjury. He may then direct the police to register First Information Report (FIR)
SIT probe to continue
This is not the end of the investigation. The SIT will continue its probe into seven skulls and hundreds of bones found at Bangle Gudde area during the independent search. The SIT found out about Bangle Gudde when Vittal Gowda informed that the skull presented before the court as evidence was taken from here.
On the other hand SIT will also be probing suspicious UDRs and missing complaints. The SIT will also give a status report on these to Karnataka State Women Commission.
not sure why SIT is following this approach, now I doubt this was planned while forming SIT that how it shall collect evidence taking safe route and creating illusions? and keep all door open
This raises serious doubts on SIT if it is faking investigation. After SIT arrested Chinnayya he changed his statements to record 183 statements again! Why is SIT not interested in Chinnyyas first 183 statements! ? Why? They are not probing the revelations made in the first statements! What is objective, intention of SIT ? Looks like SIT is going local police, COD or CBI way where these orgs never solved any rape and murder mysteries in the history of in Dharmasthala! In every case in Dharmasthala, either family member complainant or the witness or some random innocent person made the accused! No real criminal is caught till date! What a mockery of justice?!
by first month or by the time officer returned from USA , SIT were aware about some facts!! Before they headed to investigate a case they would first fact check something some facts they already knew what this is about , esp how activists trying to link it to sowjanya case and by that time SIT made sure whether one of child was inside or outside India that’s more than enough to check rice is cooked or not , later all they did was to follow govt instructions to showcase some investigation at different angle ; how they will take it further to conclusion is matter of evidences and witness statements ; but SIT was aware whether allegations were correct or not within a month ! thats all ; now its difficult to prove known facts!! investigating something unknown might be difficult but eventually something will be linked over the periods and evidence might not be that much effected but proving known needs witness evidence and will &spine of officer; but this case opened up many areas only curious thing here is how much officers are going on known path or they going on their will, Another aspect is how efficient activists pulls this under judicial investigation with various WP.. this will strengthen investigation by forcing putting out facts and making officer accountable. only way to fasten this is to be making some evidence public thats it nothing like they will suppress judiciary, or some will change laws !! I would be expecting some proofs and evidence will be made public . especially 1) whether son xyz was in india or not with proof 2) new Witness and new FIRS for other allegations that popped out recently.
ಚೆನ್ನಯ್ಯ ಎರಡನೇ ಹೇಳಿಕೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಾಗ ಕೇಸ್ ಹಳ್ಳ ಹಿಡಿಸುವ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಲಕ್ಷಣವೂ ಗೋಚರಿಸಿದೆ. ಒಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ SIT ನ್ಯಾಯ ಕಂಡುಹಿಡಿಯುವಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಫಲವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ನನ್ನ ಬಲವಾದ ನಂಬಿಕೆ.
This case has become a media trail