The Dharmasthala "mass burial" case has taken a dramatic turn with the arrest of CN Chinnayya, also known as Chenna, the individual who initially filed the complaint and claimed to be a whistleblower. Chinnayya was arrested on Saturday for allegedly misleading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka police by providing false information and lying under oath. Authorities stated that his claims regarding mass rapes and murders in the Karnataka village of Dharmasthala were found to be fabricated.

Chinnayya, who was previously referred to as the 'masked man' to protect his identity as a witness, had alleged that he was involved in burying hundreds of bodies in Dharmasthala, including those of young women who were allegedly sexually assaulted. He claimed to have worked as a sanitation worker in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014 and stated that he was forced to bury several bodies. Chinnayya also asserted that he could identify burial sites and even presented skeletal remains to support his claims.

However, the SIT's investigation revealed inconsistencies in Chinnayya's statements and documents. According to reports, the SIT found no evidence to support his allegations after an extensive investigation that included the use of ground-penetrating radar and excavation of alleged burial sites. The SIT also stated that the skull submitted by Chinnayya belonged to a man, further discrediting his claims.

The arrest of Chinnayya follows another twist in the case, with a woman named Sujata Bhat retracting her claim that her daughter had gone missing in Dharmasthala. Bhat had previously claimed that her daughter, Ananya Bhat, an alleged MBBS student, had disappeared. However, she later stated that she was under duress to make the statement.

The Dharmasthala case has been a subject of intense scrutiny and controversy. Chinnayya's initial complaint included gruesome details, alleging that many female corpses he was tasked to bury were found without clothes or undergarments, with some showing clear signs of sexual assault and violence. He also claimed to have seen injury and strangulation marks on the bodies, indicating violence.

These allegations led to the formation of the SIT, which was tasked with investigating the claims of mass burials and alleged crimes in Dharmasthala. The government instructed that all related criminal cases be transferred to the SIT.

Following his arrest, Chinnayya underwent a medical checkup and was presented before a magistrate in Belthangady. The SIT is continuing its investigation, focusing on the discrepancies in Chinnayya's claims and the potential motives behind his false allegations. Authorities are also probing whether Chinnayya was influenced or tutored by others to make these claims.