Bengaluru: The sensational Dharmasthala Skull Case has taken a dramatic new turn, with Chinnayya, a key figure linked to the controversy, filing a writ petition before the Karnataka High Court alleging that he was used as part of a larger conspiracy to defame the Dharmasthala shrine and its administration.
In his petition, Chinnayya has sought directions to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to complete its investigation and take action against those allegedly involved in the conspiracy. The petition names several individuals, including Mahesh Shetty Timarodi, Girish Mattannavar, Vitthal Gowda, Jayanth, and YouTubers Sameer M.D., Ajay and Dinesh. The petition also makes references to actor Prakash Raj, a development that has triggered widespread attention.
Taking note of the allegations, the Karnataka High Court has issued notices to the State Government and the SIT, seeking details regarding the progress of the investigation.
According to the writ petition, Chinnayya alleged that Vitthal Gowda introduced him to Mahesh Shetty Timarodi, following which he was instructed to claim that numerous bodies had been buried in Dharmasthala and that thousands of human remains were present in the area. He further claimed that Girish Mattannavar, Vitthal Gowda, Ganesh and others took him to several locations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. During this period, he was allegedly paid amounts ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 at regular intervals.
The petition states that he was later taken to the residence of a person identified as Jayanth in Bengaluru, where he was allegedly handed a human skull and instructed to pose with it for photographs. Chinnayya further claimed that he was subsequently taken to a lawyer’s office, where signatures were obtained from him on certain documents.
According to the petition, he was later taken to New Delhi by Girish Mattannavar and Sujatha Bhat in connection with proceedings before the Supreme Court. Chinnayya has also alleged that during a visit to Ujire, he was confined at the residence of Mahesh Shetty Timarodi and forced to perform agricultural work. He claimed that he was pressured to comply with instructions and was threatened with death if he failed to make statements as directed by lawyers and others involved.
The petition further alleges that videos were recorded on YouTube channels operated by Sameer M.D. and Ajay, where he was allegedly made to repeat statements as instructed by members of the group. He also claimed that he had been promised a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to assist in the construction of a house.
One of the most striking aspects of the petition is the mention of actor Prakash Raj. Chinnayya alleged that after a complaint involving a skull was lodged with the police, he was taken to a resort in Kerala. There, he claims, a phone call was arranged with Prakash Raj at around 8 pm, and he was handed the phone.
According to Chinnayya, the actor spoke to him in Tamil and allegedly advised him to give statements as instructed by Girish Mattannavar. The petition further claims that he was assured support and told that the actor would meet him on the 29th of the month.
The writ petition also alleges that some individuals celebrated the formation of the SIT by the Karnataka Government and expressed confidence that Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr Veerendra Heggade would eventually face legal consequences. Chinnayya has further alleged that he was instructed to identify locations at Banglegudda and other places so that excavations could be conducted, thereby compelling the government to spend public funds on the investigation.
In one of the most serious allegations contained in the petition, Chinnayya claimed that the entire operation had a budget of Rs 200 crore and that he was promised Rs 50 lakh if he cooperated in efforts that would allegedly result in action against Dr Veerendra Heggade. He further alleged that he was directed to show specific locations to the SIT and was threatened that his wife would be harmed if he failed to comply. However, he stated that no human remains were ultimately discovered at the locations identified during the investigation.
Claiming that he became fearful after realising the extent of the alleged conspiracy against Dharmasthala, Chinnayya said he decided to reveal what he described as the truth and subsequently provided a statement before the SIT detailing the alleged plot.
The High Court, while hearing the writ petition, has directed the State Government and the SIT to furnish details regarding the status and progress of the investigation. The court has sought a comprehensive report before the next hearing scheduled for June 29. The allegations made in the petition are currently claims made by the petitioner before the court and remain subject to investigation and judicial scrutiny.
