Beltangady, August 23, 2025 – The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala case arrested the anonymous complainant, identified as Chinnayya, on Saturday, August 23, 2025, for providing false information and obstructing the investigation. The complainant had alleged that numerous bodies, primarily of women and girls, were buried in Dharmasthala between 1994 and 2014, claiming involvement in their disposal. These claims led to the formation of the SIT, headed by senior officer Pranav Mohanty, on July 20, 2025, following public and political pressure.

The arrest came after the Mangaluru competent authority revoked the complainant’s protection under the Witness Protection Act on August 22, 2025, due to discrepancies in his statements. SIT sources revealed that the complainant retracted parts of his testimony given to a magistrate, admitting to providing misleading information. On Friday, August 22, he was summoned to the SIT office for questioning, and on Saturday morning, he was arrested. After a medical examination at Beltangady Government Hospital, he was presented before the Beltangady court at 11:00 AM and remanded to judicial custody.

The SIT’s investigation, which included excavating 17 sites based on the complainant’s claims, found no significant evidence, such as skeletal remains, to substantiate the allegations. Only minor bone fragments were recovered, which forensic analysis could not link to the alleged crimes. The complainant’s failure to identify burial sites accurately and the absence of corroborating evidence raised suspicions of perjury, leading to a new FIR under Sections 209, 227, and 229 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for false information, fraud, and obstructing investigation.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated, “The government will take action against the guilty. The SIT’s probe has exposed the truth, protecting Dharmasthala’s sanctity.” Congress MLA Belur Gopalakrishna demanded strict action against those spreading misinformation, emphasizing the need to preserve the region’s religious integrity. Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara confirmed the arrest, noting that further details would be provided by the SIT after its final report.