Dharmasthala Burial Case: Karnataka High Court Issues Notice On Ex-Sanitation Worker's Plea Seeking Expeditious Completion Of SIT Probe
Chinna C N, the original complainant in the Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case has C N Chinna–who was later booked for perjury, has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking a direction to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to file a final report and take action against the alleged conspirators named in the 19-11-2025 preliminary report The plea further seeks a direction to the SIT to...
Chinna C N, the original complainant in the Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case has C N Chinna–who was later booked for perjury, has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking a direction to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to file a final report and take action against the alleged conspirators named in the 19-11-2025 preliminary report
The plea further seeks a direction to the SIT to complete the investigation expeditiously and submit a final report before the concerned court at the earliest.
Issuing notice to the State Government, Superintendent of Police and the SIT, Justice Suraj Govindaraj, on Thursday [June 11], granted time to the State for informing as to when the final report will be filed.
“. Learned AGA is directed to take notice for respondent Nos.1 to 4….and is granted a week's time to make his submission on the prayer sought for as regard to the submission of final report and when the final report would be filed”, the order states.
The former sanitation worker had previously claimed that he was merely a 'pawn' in the pre-planned controversy against Heggade and other functionaries.
In his writ petition, Chinna, alleges that he was trained by several activists and associates to make false allegations against the Dharmasthala temple and its Dharmadhikari, Rajya Sabha member D. Veerendra Heggade.
The plea alleged that activists Mahesh Shetty Thimarody, Girish Mattannavar, Vittala Gowda, and Jayanth are the masterminds behind the alleged plot. Pertinently, all of them have been arraigned as accused in the preliminary enquiry report of SIT.
“Jayanth instructed the petitioner to hold the skull and certain writings in his hand…. The petitioner bent forward in a manner appearing to touch the skull, whereupon Jayanth took photographs of the petitioner”, the plea before the High Court says.
The petition states that Thimarody told Chinna that the operation had a budget of around Rs 200 crores received from Kerala and that he would receive Rs 50 lakh if he helped implicate Heggade in the crime.
“…Though they have named aforesaid persons as conspirators, no action has been taken against them. Further, there is no separate crime case has been registered against them for having played fraud on the court and having caused loss to the State Exchequer through the process of law…” the petitioner adds.
Chinna has also alleged that he was taken to the office of a lawyer in Bengaluru for getting tutored on what statements were to be made before the judicial officer.
The petition alleges that the investigation by the SIT is still incomplete; SIT itself has admitted that several aspects including forensic analysis of skull and electronic evidence extraction still pending, adds the petitioner. The trial court's order sheet also indicates that it is 'awaiting final report' from the SIT, Chinna contends.
“Non-completion of the investigation and non-taking of action against those persons named in the preliminary enquiry report is nothing but failure on the part of the SIT to discharge their statutory duties,” the petition argues.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on June 29.
Background
The Dharmasthala mass burial case first came into light in July 2025 when Chinna, a former sanitation worker who worked in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014, alleged that he was forced to bury hundreds of bodies of women and children, many showing signs of sexual assault.
Based on the aforesaid complaint, an FIR was registered on July 4, 2025 under Section 211(A) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The State government subsequently constituted an SIT led by senior IPS officer Pranav Mohanty.
However, Chinna was arrested for perjury on August 23, 2025, after he changed his version and alleged that he was a 'pawn' in a larger conspiracy. He was released on bail in November 2025 subject to strict conditions such as a ban on speaking to the media about the matter.
On December 18, 2025, Chinna lodged a fresh complaint before the Dharmasthala Police Station, naming several individuals as the real conspirators. The police registered the complaint by receiving it but according to his petition, no FIR was registered on the same.
Chinna also alleges that he is the only accused person whereas the other conspirators have not faced any consequences.
Case Title: Sri Chinna C N v. State of Karnataka & Ors
Case No: WP 17331/2026