Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar confirmed on Saturday that Chinnaiah—the man known as the “masked complainant” in the Dharmasthala mass grave case—took a human skull to Delhi before filing his complaints. He shared this update while speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence in Bengaluru.
Shivakumar stressed that his Congress-led government’s top goal is to uncover the truth behind the controversial Dharmasthala case and share it with the public. He was responding to recent comments from Dharmasthala’s Dharmadhikari, Veerendra Heggade, who thanked the state government for launching a transparent probe through a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Heggade, a BJP Rajya Sabha member, had said the SIT’s work is wiping away any “blot” on his reputation. But Shivakumar urged patience, saying, “Let’s wait for the full investigation report first. I’ll comment only after it’s out. I’ve seen Heggade’s statement in the news, but it’s too early to weigh in.”
He added that politicians can speak freely, but as a government representative, he has to stay measured. “Once the report lands on the Chief Minister’s or Home Minister’s desk, they’ll make the official announcement. That’s when I’ll talk,” Shivakumar explained.
Reporters also pressed him on whether the government plans to act against activists accused of misleading the public, even after the Supreme Court dismissed a related public interest litigation (PIL). Shivakumar brushed it off, replying, “This isn’t the right moment to dive into that. The Supreme Court rejected the petition and told the petitioners to take their demands to local authorities for any further investigation.”
He pointed out that no one’s really focusing on the court’s orders. “They rushed to Delhi carrying that skull, but we need the SIT to submit its official findings before anything else,” Shivakumar said.
The remarks come amid ongoing tension in the Dharmasthala mass grave case, which has sparked debates over alleged conspiracies targeting the popular Hindu pilgrimage site. Earlier, Shivakumar himself stirred controversy by claiming there’s a plot to tarnish Dharmasthala’s image, a comment that drew backlash and embarrassed the Congress government. The BJP quickly hit back, with state president B.Y. Vijayendra accusing the administration of fueling a “systematic conspiracy” to damage the revered Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala’s reputation.
Activist T. Jayanth, who’s been pushing for action against temple authorities, clarified that he, Chinnaiah, and others drove to Delhi with the skull to seek legal advice on the case.
Heggade, speaking on Friday, praised the SIT for digging into the facts and again expressed gratitude to the Congress government for its handling of the probe. The case continues to draw national attention, with all eyes on the upcoming SIT report.
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