Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 30: In a dramatic turn in the Dharmasthala mass burial case, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday granted temporary relief to Girish Mattannavar, Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi, T Jayanth, and Vittal Gowda, staying the investigation against them until November 12.
The petitioners had sought the quashing of FIR No. 39/2025, registered at Dharmasthala police station, which they claim wrongly targets them as accused. Justice Mohammad Nawaz, after hearing arguments from both sides, directed that no coercive action be taken against the petitioners until the next hearing.
Advocate Balan, representing the petitioners, told the court that the FIR does not name his clients as accused, yet they have received nine notices so far. “Our clients are neither accused nor witnesses. Notices have been sent through WhatsApp and email, bypassing proper legal procedure. This is harassment rooted in political, religious and organisational rivalry,” Balan argued.
He also highlighted the grueling nature of the investigation: “Interrogations often stretch from early morning until midnight. Over 150 hours of questioning have already taken place. Initially, the FIR was filed under Section 211(a), but later additional sections were added, changing the case’s nature.”
Special Public Prosecutor B N Jagadish, appearing for the SIT, said the complaint had originated with Chinnayya, who alleged provocation by the petitioners. Chinnayya later gave a statement under Section 164 CrPC, implicating the petitioners.
Jagadish said the SIT had examined 20 sites in Dharmasthala village and, based on findings, issued notices to the petitioners.
The court questioned the multiplicity of notices, noting that separate FIRs could have been registered rather than repeatedly summoning the same individuals under the existing FIR. Jagadish responded that investigations can continue under the same FIR, and fresh notices under Section 35(3) were necessary as the petitioners failed to appear previously.
Interim relief
After hearing both sides, the bench granted temporary protection, staying all investigative action against the petitioners until November 12.
The Dharmasthala mass burial case has been mired in controversy, attracting intense public and political attention. The High Court’s ruling provides the petitioners a temporary reprieve, while the SIT continues its probe into the allegations. “We are aware of the procedural irregularities and the harassment faced by the petitioners,” the court noted, highlighting the delicate balance between law enforcement and individual rights in highly sensitive cases.