SIT visits Thimarodi’s house to seize Bheema’s cell phone and other belongings

Bengaluru

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala mass burial case on Tuesday morning visited Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi’s residence near Ujire to seize Bheema’s phone and belongings. Bheema, who is the witness-complainant, was arrested on Saturday for perjury and forgery of evidence.

Sources in the Home Ministry told blrpost.com, “The purpose of the search at Thimarodi’s house was to seize Bheema’s phone and other belongings. He was staying in the Sowjanya activist’s house.” SIT also brought Bheema to the place. The team arrived with search warrant.

The SIT had been informed from day one about Bheema’s place of residence, and every day during the exhumation operation, he was being escorted by the police from Thimarodi’s house. This was no secret. Thimarodi had not kept Bheema hidden, and his advocates were informed in writing about the arrangement.

As Bheema is now an accused in the case, it is legal procedure to seize his belongings, including his phone, for the purpose of investigation. The SIT is unlikely to arrest Thimarodi, as nothing has been found so far to prove that he conspired to malign the Dharmasthala Temple Administration.

It may be recalled that the State government constituted the SIT on July 19 after Bheema filed a complaint at the Dharmasthala police station on July 3. An FIR was registered in connection with the complaint on July 4. During the exhumation process, the SIT found skeletal remains belonging to two human beings.

Donate for fearless journalism