Witness Pradeep’s statement recorded under 183 BNSS in mass burial case

Bengaluru 

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday took Pradeep, a witness in the mass burial case (39/2025), to court and recorded his statement under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Pradeed, who runs a mechanical shop in Belthangady taluk, is also actively involved in the Justice for Soujanya movement. He had been questioned for several days by the SIT in connection with the case and the skull. His statement was recorded before the magistrate.

Sources in the Home Ministry said, “His statement under Section 183 was recorded in the original mass burial case. We cannot reveal more details as this is a confidential statement.” When asked if any statement was made regarding the skull, the source said specific details could not be shared.

Meanwhile, the SIT is collecting documents from the panchayat pertaining to Unnatural Death Reports (UDR) and burials, amid allegations of forgery in some records. The team has also completed mahajars at Bangle Gudde, where a large number of skeletal remains were found.

It may be recalled that the only accused in the case, Chinnayya, was arrested on August 23 and remains in judicial custody. He faces charges of perjury and forgery of evidence related to the skull he submitted before a magistrate. The SIT was constituted on July 19 after Chinnayya lodged a complaint at Dharmasthala police station, alleging he had been forced to bury bodies illegally. He later gave a statement before a magistrate. Following this, the SIT carried out exhumation operations for two weeks, recovering skeletal remains of two individuals.