Mangaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has been meticulously tracing the real trail of the Burude case, has conducted extensive investigations across multiple locations, including Dharmasthala, Mandya, and Tamil Nadu. The inquiry took a significant turn when officers, seeking the whereabouts of the masked man Chinnaiah, were led to the residence of Mahesh Shetty Timarodi. Acting on this critical lead, SIT officials conducted a thorough search of Timarodi’s residence in the early hours on Tuesday, uncovering vital evidence related to Chinnaiah’s involvement.
During the search of Timarodi’s house, officers meticulously examined clothes, bags, and seized essential items including the CCTV DVR, ID cards linked to Chinnaiah, and an Android phone believed to be of significant importance in the ongoing investigation. The fact that Chinnaiah had been sheltered in Timarodi’s home for two months has raised serious questions about Timarodi’s role in the conspiracy.
Chinnaiah’s confession has been pivotal in unraveling the mystery. He admitted that he took refuge in Timarodi’s house for an extended period, which prompted the SIT to track his movements and activities. The officers have been scrutinising his interactions, identifying whom he met and interviewed during this period. By analyzing the captured data, SIT aims to map the network of people involved and the communication patterns within the Burude gang.
The SIT’s interrogation of Chinnaiah has been intense and relentless. The officers have demanded answers on numerous fronts: where he lived when he reported the burial of bodies, who initially took him to Shetty’s house, the frequency and nature of his visits, and the individuals he encountered while at Timarodi’s residence. Under pressure, Chinnaiah has been forced to confront inconsistencies in his statements, especially regarding his possession and use of a mobile phone initially denied but later found in Timarodi’s house.
In a moment of vulnerability, Chinnaiah pleaded with the SIT, “If necessary, take it to court. I will tell the truth in front of the judge. Please leave me from this case. Save me.” Despite being an accused in the Dharmasthala Burude(skull) case, Chinnaiah has started to crack under the SIT’s scrutiny, revealing disturbing details about the gang’s operations.
Chinnaiah’s tearful confession revealed that there are at least 12 individuals involved in orchestrating this elaborate conspiracy. He admitted to working in Dharmasthala and burying some bodies but denied burying thousands as alleged. “I did not know this case would escalate to such proportions,” he stated, expressing regret for his involvement.
He disclosed that he was misled by the anti-gang and was just a pawn in their scheme. “I do not know where the skeleton I handed to the police came from. I only dealt with the skeletons given by the gang. They instructed me to do as told, and that is what I did,” Chinnaiah confessed.
Driven by monetary desire, Chinnaiah accepted the job, believing the bones would remain undiscovered during autopsy. However, the discovery of a skull at point 6 shattered his confidence and motivated him to come clean.
He revealed that after returning from the burial site, members of the gang warned him of grave consequences for hesitation. “They said I had killed the great warrior of Dharmasthala and that my opponents might kill me. I feared these threats,” he said.
Chinnaiah clarified that all the bodies he buried were those legally after autopsy and was instructed to bury bodies only after legal proceedings. He denied burying thousands of bodies, stating, “They forced me to lie as per their instructions, and I was caught in the web of deceit.”
