In a sensational twist to the Dharmasthala mass burial case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested the “masked man” whose explosive allegations of mass graves had rocked Karnataka for weeks. He has now been identified as C.N. Chinnaiah alias Chennaiah, a native of Chikkaballi village in Mandya district.
Chinnaiah first surfaced in June 2025, claiming that he had buried bodies at 17 different locations in Dharmasthala. He even produced skeletal remains, including a skull, as supposed proof. His accusations ranging from murders to secret burials sparked large-scale excavations, drew national and international attention, and cast a shadow over the revered Dharmasthala temple.
Initially, the SIT refrained from arresting him after he sought protection under the Witness Protection Act, citing threats to his life. But once forensic examinations debunked his claims, his protection was revoked. Multiple cases, including filing false accusations, were registered. He was arrested, medically examined at Belthangady Government Hospital, and produced before court.
Sources said he has since confessed that his allegations were fabricated, and the SIT is now seeking his custody for further interrogation after already questioning him for more than 19 hours.
For weeks, Chinnaiah’s face was hidden behind a mask. On Friday, his photograph from years ago, when he worked as a sanitation worker in Dharmasthala, surfaced in the media, finally revealing his identity. Broadcasters including Asianet Suvarna News confirmed him as the same whistleblower who accompanied investigators during the high-profile digs.
False Allegations, Wasted Resources
His claims triggered frenzied excavations across Dharmasthala, but no evidence of mass burials was found. Forensic tests showed that the skull and bone fragments he produced were decades old and unrelated to his accusations.
Legal experts have noted that his fabricated testimony not only wasted precious investigative resources but also deeply distressed families of missing persons who briefly believed they might receive closure. The allegations, they said, also appeared designed to tarnish the reputation of Dharmasthala and its temple administration.
Chennai Gang Link
In a startling confession, Chinnaiah reportedly told the SIT that he was coerced by a Chennai-based gang in December 2023. He said the group pressured him to claim that legally sanctioned burials of pilgrims had actually been secret illegal graves.
The gang, he alleged, trained him to depose falsely in court, handed him old skeletal remains to use as “evidence,” and even coordinated his narrative with another complainant, Sujatha Bhat, who had filed a missing person case for her daughter.
Ex-Wife’s Testimony
Adding to the collapse of his credibility, Chinnaiah’s former wife spoke to reporters and accused him of lying for financial gain. Married to him from 1999 to 2006, she claimed he was abusive toward her and their two children, and that he worked as a sweeper in Dharmasthala, cleaning toilets.
“To avoid paying alimony, he lied in court about being unemployed during our divorce. He betrayed me,” she said, stressing that she had deep respect for Dharmasthala and that her husband’s claims were baseless.
Villagers Confirm Background
Residents of Chikkaballi village in Mandya corroborated parts of her account. They identified him as the youngest son of a grama panchayat employee, who had worked in civic jobs and at a local brick kiln. They recalled that the community even built him a house, which he later tried to claim solely for himself. He had also defaulted on a cattle loan and abruptly left the village in 2014.
SIT Investigation Continues
With Chinnaiah’s arrest and confessions, the SIT is now probing the alleged role of external actors, including the Chennai gang, in scripting and propagating the false narrative. Notices are expected to be issued to others connected to the case as the investigation deepens.
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