Over 40 policemen, several employees of Dharmasthala institution questioned by SIT

Bengaluru 

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mass burial case has questioned 40–45 policemen of different ranks, besides several former and incumbent employees of the institution at Dharmasthala.

A highly placed source in the Home Ministry told blrpost.com that “the SIT has summoned more than 40 policemen who served in Belthangady and Dharmasthala police stations and questioned them as part of the investigation. This is a very wide-ranging probe, and no stone will be left unturned. The SIT is conducting a fair and transparent investigation.” Even retired police persons have been questioned.

There is a general feeling among the public that the SIT is targeting Sowjanya activists and that the probe is one-sided. But in reality, the SIT has summoned several individuals who have no connection with the activists. The investigation is being carried out from all angles. The SIT has so far questioned more than 200 individuals. 

The source further said that besides policemen, the SIT has also questioned former and current employees of the Dharmasthala institution, including workers from the Information Centre. The SIT has also summoned employees working in the lodges run by the institution. It must be noted that the SIT summons individuals only if there are sufficient grounds to call them for inquiry.

This means that for the SIT to summon them again, the team would need additional grounds. During the further course of investigation, if the SIT finds new evidence or reasons, these individuals may be summoned once more.

The SIT, which was formed on July 19 by the state government after Chinnayya filed a complaint at the Dharmasthala police station, later arrested the same person after he made a U-turn, claiming that his allegations of illegal burials were untrue. The SIT is now probing his second statement given before a magistrate under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The second statement was made as a counter to the first one recorded under Section 183. Chinnayya has been charged under several sections related to perjury and forgery.