The whistleblower who had alleged multiple murders, rapes, and secret burials in Dharmasthala over the past two decades was taken into custody on Saturday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on charges of perjury, after investigators claimed that they found inconsistencies in his statements and documents.
Identified as C.N. Chinnaiah, a former sanitation worker at the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple, he was arrested on charges of perjury after investigators found inconsistencies in his statements and documents.
Police said Chinnaiah, who had so far appeared before the inquiry panel wearing a mask, has now been remanded to police custody.
After several hours of questioning, he was taken for a medical check-up before being produced before Judicial First Class Magistrate Vijayendra.
The SIT sought 10 days’ custody for further interrogation, which the court granted, according to PTI.
The arrest came just a day after Sujata Bhat admitted to a news channel that she had filed a false complaint in 2003, claiming her daughter Ananya Bhat went missing in Dharmasthala. She confessed she never had a daughter by that name and that she had lodged the complaint under pressure in connection with a property dispute.
So far, the SIT has dug up 17 sites, with human remains reportedly recovered from only two. Some of Chinnaiah’s former colleagues have also given contradictory testimonies, raising questions over the credibility of the allegations.
Meanwhile, supporters of...
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