Former Supporters of Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case Now Seek FIR Cancellation in Karnataka High Court

The four individuals initially supported Chinnaiah's allegations.

Four individuals who previously supported former sanitation employee CN Chinnaiah in filing an FIR regarding alleged mass burials of rape and murder victims in Karnataka's Dharmasthala from the 1990s to mid-2010s have now petitioned the Karnataka High Court to dismiss the case.

Chinnaiah presented these allegations in July and was subsequently detained by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the matter on charges of providing false testimony and information.

Girish Mattennavar, Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi, Jayanth T, and Vittala Gowda, who initially backed Chinnaiah's claims, have filed a petition contesting the FIR (Crime No. 39/2025) registered at Dharmasthala Police Station and the notice issued to them by the SIT on October 24.

In their legal submission, they contend that the notice was improperly served electronically rather than physically, which they argue violates Supreme Court guidelines established in Satendra Kumar Antil vs CBI.

They further assert that they have been fully cooperative with investigators and should therefore be protected from arrest or other coercive measures.

The petition requests cancellation of the FIR and related proceedings, arguing that the SIT's investigation methods are procedurally deficient and unlawful.

The High Court reviewed the case on Thursday and issued an interim stay on the investigation. The court additionally directed that no coercive action should be taken against the petitioners until further judicial orders.