In a significant development in the ongoing Dharmasthala mass burial case, the primary complainant, CN Chinnayya, has formally requested police protection for himself and his wife, citing serious threats to their lives. This plea comes just one day after his release from the Shivamogga Central Prison, where he was held on perjury charges linked to the high-profile investigation.
Petition Filed Citing Specific Threats
According to official sources, Chinnayya submitted a detailed petition at the Belthangady police station on December 18. In the document, he named several individuals whom he believes could pose a direct threat to his safety and that of his spouse. The persons named in the petition are activists Mahesh Shetty Thimarody, Girish Mattannavar, Vittal Gowda, Jayanth, and Sameer MD.
Police authorities at the Belthangady station have confirmed receiving the petition. They stated that standard procedures will be followed to assess the threat and determine the necessary course of action regarding the request for protection.
A Delayed Release and Conditional Bail
Chinnayya's path to freedom was not straightforward. The principal district and sessions judge in Mangaluru had granted him conditional bail on November 24. However, his actual release was delayed for nearly a month due to procedural requirements.
His release was finally secured only after his wife appeared before the senior civil judge and JMFC court in Belthangady on Wednesday. She executed a personal bail bond worth Rs 1 lakh and furnished two sureties, following which the court issued the formal release order.
Case Background and SIT Takeover
The origins of this complex case trace back to early July. On July 4, the Dharmasthala police initially registered the case based on Chinnayya's complaint. In his statement, he, a former sanitation worker at Dharmasthala from 1995 to December 2014, claimed he was forced to secretly dispose of bodies. He also expressed fear for his life, stating he fled the area with his family and hid in a neighbouring state.
Seeking witness protection, Chinnayya had approached the police, offering to cooperate with the investigation by naming alleged perpetrators and identifying locations where bodies were supposedly disposed of. Given the sensitivity and scale of the allegations, the Karnataka government ordered the transfer of the case to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on July 19.
The SIT, led by Pronab Mohanty, the Director General of Police for the Internal Security Division, officially took over the probe, re-registering it as Crime No. 39/2025. The SIT arrested Chinnayya on August 23. Later, charges of perjury were added against him, allegedly connected to a skull that was presented as evidence before the court.
The situation remains tense as the SIT continues its investigation into the grave allegations of mass burial, while the central complainant now lives under the shadow of perceived threats, awaiting a decision on his request for security.
