Twist in Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case: Activists Seek to Quash Own FIR After SIT Finds No Evidence

In a surprising turn in the Dharmasthala mass burial case, the activists who had originally filed the complaint have now approached the Karnataka High Court seeking to quash the FIR registered on their own petition. The case, which had triggered widespread concern over alleged mass burials and mysterious deaths near the revered Dharmasthala temple in Dakshina Kannada district, has taken a new direction following the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

According to reports, the activists — Girish Mattennavar, Thimmarodi, and Jayant T. — filed a petition before the High Court requesting that the FIR registered under Section 211(A) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Dharmasthala Police Station be quashed. The FIR was based on a complaint that claimed unidentified bodies, many allegedly of women, were buried in forest areas near the temple town.

The original complaint was submitted by a man identified as Chinnayya, popularly known as the “masked man”, to the Superintendent of Police, Dakshina Kannada. However, after weeks of investigation, the SIT reportedly found no evidence to support the claims. Following this, Chinnayya was arrested for perjury, with the investigation revealing inconsistencies and misinformation in the allegations.

The SIT, which conducted searches at multiple sites around Dharmasthala, stated that there were no signs of mass burials or unnatural deaths as alleged. Investigators noted that the claims seemed to have stemmed from false information and fabricated narratives, leading to public confusion and speculation.

Sources said the petitioners have now also sought to cancel two additional cases filed against Chinnayya — one related to an alleged “anti-Dharmasthala conspiracy” and another concerning forgery charges. Police had earlier clubbed allegations of unnatural deaths and conspiracy into a single FIR.

In their latest petition, the activists reportedly argued that continuing the cases would not serve justice, given the SIT’s findings and the lack of credible evidence. They also requested the court to quash the SIT notice issued on October 24, 2025, and close all related proceedings.