dharmasthala-case-complainant-chinnaiah-records-statement

The voluntary statement of Chinnaiah, the complainant in the controversial Dharmasthala case, was recorded by the Additional Civil Judge and Judicial First Class Magistrate in Belthangady on Saturday evening, officials confirmed.

 

Chinnaiah, 45, was brought to the court under police escort from Shivamogga prison, where he is currently lodged. His statement was recorded under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

 

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) had previously arrested Chinnaiah on charges of perjury, alleging that he made false claims during earlier court proceedings on July 11.

 

In his voluntary statement, police sources said Chinnaiah admitted that both his complaint — which alleged multiple rapes, murders, and burials over two decades in Dharmasthala — and the testimony he had given were entirely false. He claimed the allegations were made at the behest of certain individuals, whose names the police were unable to divulge due to technical issues.

 

He further told the court that the skull he had produced on July 11 as evidence was handed to him by the uncle of the victim, Soujanya's uncle, Vittala Gowda. The SIT is continuing its investigation into the wider case.

 

Also read: Skeleton remains unearthed at Banglegudda in Dharmasthala case