Dharmasthala case should be cancelled; activists from Karnataka approach High Court

BENGALURU: A group of activists from Karnataka has approached the High Court seeking to quash the FIR registered in the Dharmasthala mass burial case. The case began in July when former sanitation worker CN Chinnayya misled the investigation team by giving a false complaint. Later, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested him for giving false testimony.

The activists, who had earlier supported Chinnayya, have now filed a petition requesting the court to quash the case registered at the Dharmasthala Police Station. They have also challenged the notice sent to them by the investigation team on October 24.

The police had launched an investigation after Chinnayya claimed that he had buried the bodies of hundreds of women and girls between 1992 and 2014. Following this shocking statement, the Karnataka government formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter. However, despite extensive digging at several sites based on his statement, no human remains were found to support his claims.

In their petition, the activists stated that the police notice was not served to them directly but was sent through other means. They argued that they have been cooperating with the investigation and should not face arrest or any other action. The petition further claims that the SIT's actions are legally invalid and procedurally flawed, and therefore, the FIR and related proceedings should be quashed.