The SIT filed a 3,900-page report against Chinnaiah and five others.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
The Belthangady court has posted to December 29 for pronouncing its decision on the chargesheet (technically called compliant report under Section 215 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) against Chinnaiah, activists Mahesh Shetty Thimarody, Girish Mattennavar, T. Jayanth and Vittala Gowda, and Sujatha Bhat.
After arresting Chinnaiah for giving false complaint and giving false statement before the court regarding mass burial of bodies in Dharmasthala village, the SIT reportedly found that Chinnaiah did it under pressure from activists Thimarody, Mattennavar, Jayanth and Vittala Gowda.
The four activists failed to appear before the SIT investigation officer, following issuance of notice. Then the SIT filed a 3,900-page report against Chinnaiah, four activists and Sujatha Bhat, who was accused of filing false complaint about her daughter going missing in Dharmasthala. They were accused of offences under Sections 227 (giving false evidence), 228 (fabricating false evidence), 229, 230 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence), 231 giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of offence punishable with imprisonment for life), 233 (using evidence known to be false), 236 (false statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence), 240 (giving false information with respect to an offence), 248 (false charge of offence made with intent to injure) and 336 (forgery) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
After hearing Prosecutor Divyaraj Hegde about the SIT report, Senior Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class T.H. Vijayendra posted to Friday, for pronouncing decision on the report.
On Friday, Chinnaiah, who was recently released from Shivamogga jail on bail, appeared before the court in Belthangady. The Magistrate then adjourned the matter to December 29. As per the order of the court, activist Jayant received a copy of the report on Friday.
Published – December 26, 2025 06:51 pm IST
