Group which alleged mass burials in Dharmasthala approaches HC to quash FIR

BENGALURU: The alleged conspirators in the ‘mass burial’ case in Dharmasthala have now approached the High Court seeking quashing of the case registered against them. The group including Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi, Girish Mattannanavar, Jayanth T and Vithal Gowda, have filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking to quash the case.

The petitioners claim that they were interrogated for over 100 hours and despite giving statements that did not incriminate them, the SIT issued notices against them. They fear arrest if they appear for further investigation.

The SIT had registered a case against them based on a complaint by Chinnaiah, and additional sections were added to the FIR, including charges of forgery, cheating and creating false evidence.

The group had been leading a campaign over the alleged mass burials and had even approached the Supreme Court. They had claimed to have evidence and witnesses to support their claims, and had been demanding justice for the victims. However, after the SIT issued notices, they have now approached the High Court seeking quashing of the case, claiming that the FIR was filed with malafide intentions and that the SIT’s investigation is biased.

The petitioners have alleged that the SIT’s notice is an attempt to intimidate and harass them, and that they are being targeted for their activism. They have sought the court’s intervention to quash the case and stop the SIT’s investigation.

The case is likely to be heard by a single-judge bench of Justice Mohammed Nawaz. The petitioners are represented by senior lawyer Balan.

Meanwhile, the SIT pasted a notice on Jayanth’s house, summoning him to appear for investigation. The notice was pasted by officials who arrived in an autorickshaw and Jayanth’s wife was seen shouting at the officials.

The SIT had previously conducted a search at Jayant’s house in Dasarahalli and interrogated him and his family members.