Dharmasthala resident seeks probe by SIT and other agencies into conspiracy to target temple

A resident of Dharmasthala has filed a complaint with the Special Investigation Team to probe into illegal funding, criminal conspiracy, and narrative terrorism targeting Shri Kshetra Dhamasthala and pattadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade.

In the complaint submitted on Tuesday to the SIT, which is probing the alleged sass burials in Dharmasthala, Surendra Prabhu said there was a coordinated and malicious campaign. Many YouTube channels and social media platforms have continued to publish defamatory, provocative, and misleading content with an intention to false narrative against Manjunatheshwara temple.

These activities, he said, appear to be part of a carefully planned conspiracy. The false propaganda was deliberately extended to audience in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Through certain Hindi and English channels it has been projected to larger national and international audience.

Apart from the SIT, Mr. Prabhu has submitted this complaint to the Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police, the Income Tax Central Range Office, Mangaluru, and the Director, Enforcement Directorate, Mangaluru sub zonal office.

Meanwhile, the SIT on Tuesday continued the questioning of activists Girish Mattannavar and T. Jayanth, murder-victim Soujanya’s uncle Vittala Gowda, and YouTubers Abdul Manaf and Abhishek, with regard to the skeletal remains produced by 45-year-old Chinnaiah at the time of his sworn statement.

The magistrate court in Belthangady adjourned till September 12 the hearing on the bail application filed by Chinnaiah, when he was sent to judicial custody on September 6. The SIT arrested Chinnaiah for perjury on August 23 and questioned him by keeping him in their custody till September 5.