A key development in the high-profile case from Dharmasthala, Karnataka, took place on September 6. The court in Mangaluru has remanded Chinnaiah, popularly known as the “Mask Man,” to 14 days of judicial custody. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) presented him before the court earlier today, and authorities plan to shift him to Shivamogga prison for his safety.
Chinnaiah is at the center of a complex case involving allegations of disturbing discoveries related to the murders of women and girls. He previously claimed that he was forced to bury the bodies of victims who had been raped and murdered in Dharmasthala. During his statement, he requested the exhumation of the bodies in his presence, pointing out signs of sexual assault. He also submitted a skull to the SIT as part of his evidence.
The case started gaining attention after Chinnaiah claimed he had information about the burial sites and presented the skull as evidence. He was initially protected under the Witness Protection Act, but later he was arrested for allegedly misleading the authorities during the investigation.
The SIT is now waiting for forensic reports, including FSL and DNA analysis of sand samples collected from 17 excavation sites. Home Minister G. Parameshwara explained that the soil type at the burial spots may cause bones to dissolve, and the lab results will confirm this. Once the reports arrive, the investigation will take a major step forward.
As part of the probe, the SIT is examining the credibility of the skull presented by Chinnaiah. He claims that activists and YouTubers helped him obtain the skull, and several of them are being questioned, including activists Girish Mattennavar, T. Jayanth, and YouTuber Sameer. They are being asked about their role and their allegations against temple authorities and Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade.
The investigation also involves questioning Sujatha Bhat, a woman who initially said her daughter, Ananya Bhat, had gone missing, but later retracted her statement, claiming she was pressured to make the claim. The SIT is also questioning other individuals, including YouTuber Manaf from Kerala and Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi, in relation to the case.
This case has sparked political reactions too. Leaders from BJP, JD(S), and the Congress party have held rallies in Dharmasthala to show support for the temple management and Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade. A group of women activists wrote to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, demanding her intervention and urging her to address concerns about political support for the temple authorities.
Meanwhile, some religious leaders recently met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and asked for a thorough investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). They told him they are closely monitoring the case and expect swift action.
This case continues to unfold with many twists and turns. Authorities are now focused on forensic evidence and further questioning of witnesses and key figures to uncover the truth behind these disturbing allegations.
