Complainant in Dharmasthala mass-rape burial case arrested for perjury amid probe

A major development has unfolded in the Dharmasthala “mass burial” case, as the complainant — previously a court-protected witness — has been arrested by the Karnataka Special Investigation Team (SIT) for allegedly providing false testimony under oath.

Authorities cite inconsistencies in his statements as the reason for the perjury charge.

Identified as CN Chinnayya alias “Chenna”, the complainant had initially emerged as a whistleblower, previously referred to anonymously as the "masked man."

He claimed that during his employment as a sanitation worker at the Dharmasthala temple between 1995 and 2014, he was coerced into burying hundreds of bodies — many belonging to women and minors — some showing signs of sexual assault.

Following public outrage and legal pressure, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed in July under DGP Pranab Mohanty. As part of its efforts, the SIT exhumed skeletal remains from multiple sites identified by the complainant.

Forensic teams recovered human remains at two of these locations and sent them for analysis. At nine locations, no remains were found and soil samples were collected instead.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara assured the state assembly that the investigation is ongoing. He emphasized that the complaint was recorded before a magistrate, and the complainant has since been provided witness protection. He also stressed that action will depend on forensic report outcomes.

“As of now, only exhumations have been completed,” Parameshwara said. He added that they have no intention of shielding anyone but are committed to uncovering the truth based on evidence.

Reports reiterate that discrepancies in the complainant's statements and documents drove the SIT to take legal action. The complainant was taken for medical evaluation before being presented in court, as is customary.

The case originated when the complainant approached the court, masked and seeking anonymity, claiming he had exhumed a skeleton from one of the alleged burial sites to substantiate his claims.

He visited several sites alongside authorities, pointing to where bodies were allegedly buried. His decision to come forward after more than a decade stemmed from a sense of guilt, as he stated.

Earlier media reports highlighted that Dharmasthala — a temple town nestled in Karnataka’s Western Ghats and a revered pilgrimage centre — has long faced allegations of sexual assault, murder, and mass burials over several decades.

Protest movements and missing-person cases, including the 2012 case of 17-year-old Sowjanya, have previously raised questions about unexplained deaths.

As of now, the SIT continues its inquiry while awaiting forensic analysis. If reports confirm the veracity of the exhumed remains, further investigation and action may follow.

If not, the government believes Dharmasthala’s integrity could be upheld but only time and credible evidence will decide.