The sensational Dharmasthala “mass burial” case in Karnataka has taken a dramatic turn with the arrest of the very complainant who had initially sparked the controversy. The case, which had gripped the state for weeks with chilling allegations of mass rapes, murders, and secret burials, has now been thrown into question after the complainant, CN Chinnayya alias Chenna, was found to have fabricated his claims.
The Arrest of the “Masked Man”
For weeks, Chenna was referred to in the media as the “masked man”, as he had kept his identity concealed while claiming to be a whistleblower. He appeared before authorities with sensational allegations that hundreds of young women had been sexually assaulted and murdered, with their bodies secretly buried in Dharmasthala.
To back his claim, he even carried a skull to a police station in July, triggering shockwaves across Karnataka. His allegations led to widespread outrage, calls for justice, and a massive political slugfest between the ruling Congress government and the opposition BJP.
However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was tasked with probing the case, soon began to doubt the credibility of his testimony. During cross-examination, investigators discovered serious inconsistencies in his statements. When Chenna recorded his statement before a magistrate, it failed to align with the SIT’s findings. Eventually, investigators concluded that he had been lying under oath.
His witness protection was withdrawn, and on Friday, he was arrested for perjury. Visuals showed him being escorted by police for a medical examination before being produced in court, marking a stunning reversal in a case that initially appeared to expose heinous crimes.
Another U-Turn: Missing Girl Claim Falls Apart
Chenna’s arrest wasn’t the only twist. In another shocking development, a woman named Sujata Bhat—who had earlier claimed that her daughter, Ananya Bhat, an MBBS student, had gone missing in Dharmasthala—also retracted her statement.
Initially, she had appeared on local media channels alleging that her daughter had vanished, bolstering fears that women were indeed being targeted in the temple town. But in a later statement, she confessed that Ananya never existed.
Her retraction only added to the growing suspicion that the entire narrative was built on fabricated evidence. Later, Sujata made yet another U-turn, claiming that she had been under duress when she denied her daughter’s existence. The series of contradictory claims further muddied the waters, raising questions about the motivations and possible external influences on the complainants.
Political Firestorm
Unsurprisingly, the twists in the case have reignited political tempers in Karnataka. The BJP, which had previously accused the Congress government of mishandling the issue, seized on the new revelations as fresh ammunition.
BJP MLA Bharath Shetty alleged that both Chenna and Sujata were mere “front players” in a larger conspiracy, suggesting that “powerful forces” were backing the spread of false claims to defame the sacred town of Dharmasthala.
the masked man and sujata bhai are only pawns. the real players behind them must be exposed, Mr shetty said.
He also questioned the Congress government’s decision to form an SIT, pointing out that the move came shortly after the local police had recommended a narco-analysis test of the complainant. According to him, “heavy funding” was likely behind the propagation of false narratives such as mass graves in Dharmasthala.
this is nothing but a drama to tarnish the reputation of a holy town. the congress goverment allowed it to continue instead of shutting it down at the start, he said.
Congress Hits Back
The ruling Congress, meanwhile, defended its handling of the investigation and accused the BJP of opportunism. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar dismissed the BJP’s allegations, pointing out that the opposition had initially supported the SIT probe.
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“the BJP initially did not object in fact everyone welcomed SIT investigation. Now that the truth is emerging, they are trying to politicise it,” he said.
Mr Shivakumar also noted that the Dharmasthala family themselves met the Chief Minister to express confidence in the investigation, reinforcing that the government was acting impartially.
we will act against whoever is guilty, but religion should not be dragged into politice. we urge all parties not to exploit this sensitive matter for political gains, he said.
A Case That Shook Karnataka
The Dharmasthala case first made headlines in July 2025, when Chenna walked into a police station with a skull and a chilling story: he had allegedly helped bury bodies of young women who were raped and killed in the temple town. His claims unleashed panic, anger, and a media frenzy, as the idea of mass burials shook public faith in the safety of Dharmasthala, a site revered by millions of devotees.
The state government quickly formed an SIT to probe the claims, but as weeks went by, investigators found no concrete evidence to support Chenna’s allegations. Instead, their inquiries increasingly pointed towards fabrication and exaggeration.
Now, with the complainant himself under arrest for lying and other witnesses backtracking, the case appears to have collapsed under its own contradictions.
While the arrest of Chenna marks a turning point, many questions remain unanswered:
- Who, if anyone, encouraged him to make such shocking allegations?
- Was there a larger conspiracy to defame Dharmasthala for political or other motives?
- Why did multiple witnesses, including Sujata Bhat, change their statements repeatedly?
The SIT has promised to continue its probe, not only into the false allegations but also into the possible networks or funding sources behind them.
For now, the developments have turned the Dharmasthala “mass burial” case on its head—from one of alleged mass crimes to one of perjury and political controversy.
What began as a disturbing tale of hidden atrocities has now spiraled into a complex web of lies, retractions, and political mudslinging. The arrest of Chenna, once the so-called whistleblower, has left many questioning how such explosive claims gained traction without credible evidence.
As Karnataka waits for the SIT’s final word, the Dharmasthala case serves as a cautionary tale: in the age of viral news and political rivalries, truth can easily be obscured by sensationalism.
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