MANGALURU: The complainant who had alleged there were multiple murders, rapes and burials in Dharmasthala over a period of the past two decades, was arrested on Saturday by the SIT formed to investigate these charges.
The complainant, a former sanitation worker at the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple was arrested for perjury after inconsistencies were found in the statements and documents provided by him. He has been remanded to police custody.
The complainant, who had so far appeared before the panel wearing a mask, has been identified as C N Chinnaiah, according to police information reported by news agency PTI.
He was taken to a hospital for a medical check-up following several hours of questioning. He was produced before Judicial First Class Magistrate Vijayendra, and the SIT sought 10 days’ custody for further investigation. The court granted the request, officials added, reports PTI.
The arrest comes day after Sujata Bhat told a news channel that she had lodged a false complainant stating that her daughter Ananya Bhat had gone missing in Dharmasthala in the year 2003, under pressure from some individuals. She had reportedly told that she did not have any daughter by that name and had made the false charges as she was aggrieved in a property case.
The Karnataka government and SIT had come under pressure to arrest the complainant, after the investigation team did not find human remains in majority of the places where he had claimed to have buried people under pressure from Dharmasthala temple authorities.
Out of 17 places dug up so far, human remains were reportedly found in only two places. Meanwhile, some men who claimed to be colleagues of the complainant when he was a sanitation worker at the Dharmasthala temple had given contradictory statements when questioned, according to SIT.
The SIT is continuing its probe into the matter.
Meanwhile, supporters of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade have alleged that the claims made by the complainant were part of a "larger conspiracy" to malign him and his family. Hegde had recently called the allegations "baseless" and alleged that it was an "attack on Hindu religious institutions."
Heggade welcomed the arrest of the complainant, saying that the "truth is beginning to come out."
Speaking to a gathering that had arrived in Dharmasthala to show solidarity, after the SIT produced the complainant in a Belthangady court, Heggade said the temple town had been facing "unfounded allegations" which had caused distress to devotees and the community at large.
"With this development, we have faith that facts will prevail and justice will be upheld," he said.
Heggade refrained from commenting further, stating that the investigation was ongoing and would bring clarity in due course.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the government is committed to taking action against anyone found guilty in the alleged “multiple murders, rapes and burials.”
“The investigation is ongoing, and the government stands for justice, not politics,” he said, adding that the temple family has welcomed the probe and met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to express appreciation.
Shivakumar, who earlier called the allegations a “conspiracy” to tarnish Dharmasthala’s image, criticised the BJP for initially staying silent and said he is confident the truth will emerge through the SIT investigation.
Home Minister G Parameshwara said legal action could be taken if the SIT finds the claims false.
The BJP on Saturday demanded that the probe be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), alleging a larger conspiracy backed by “foreign funds, forces and conversion lobbies” to malign the temple and Hindu traditions.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said the arrest of complainant C N Chinnaiah alone was “not enough” and insisted that the real conspirators behind him must be exposed. “This seems to have a religious conversion angle, and it needs to be investigated. For the government to prove it is conducting a fair probe and not insulting Hindus, they should form a separate SIT or hand it to the NIA,” he said, adding that money was said to have come from abroad.
BJP state president B Y Vijayendra echoed the demand, alleging that international and national media were used to amplify a slander campaign against Dharmasthala. “Who are the forces behind this? Who hatched the conspiracy? All of them need to be unmasked, and strict legal action taken,” he said, calling the episode a “systematic conspiracy against Indians’ feelings and traditions.”
Meanwhile, PTI also reports that police have issued a notice to YouTuber M D Sameer, who is under the scanner of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), directing him to appear before the investigating officer on August 24, officials said on Saturday.
Police said the notice, pasted at his residence in Ballari, came after a Mangaluru court granted Sameer anticipatory bail on August 21.
Sameer faces criminal charges over content related to the Dharmasthala case.
A case has been registered against him at the Dharmasthala police station under Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 240 (giving false information) and 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
According to police, the charges stem from a video uploaded by Sameer in which he made allegations linked to the case. The SIT is also examining his role as part of its ongoing probe, officials said.
Sameer, who commands a sizeable online following, has maintained that his videos highlight issues ignored by mainstream media. Authorities, however, allege his recent content amounted to provocation and the spread of misinformation, with the potential to disturb public order.
While granting anticipatory bail, the court directed Sameer to cooperate with the investigation and refrain from making "inflammatory statements".
(With inputs from PTI)