SIT asked to complete probe of Dharmasthala case, submit report at the earliest: HM Parameshwara
Bengaluru: Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara said on Monday that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing the mass burials case of Dharmasthala in Belthangady taluk, Dakshina Kannada, has been directed to complete the investigation as soon as possible and submit the report.
The minister, however, told reporters here that the SIT had not been given a deadline to complete the probe as some of the processes, including the DNA and chemical analyses, required time to be completed.
He added that the government was giving priority to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report and had sought the SIT to submit it soon.
The SIT was formed after a complainant, CN Chinnaiah, claimed that he had buried several bodies, including those of women having signs of sexual assault, in Dharmasthala more than two decades ago. Although Chinnaiah was later arrested on charges of perjury, his allegation had implications pointing towards the Dharmasthala Temple administrators.
The probe team searched at multiple locations identified by the complainant-witness in forest areas on the banks of River Nethravathi in Dharmasthala, with skeletal remains being found at two sites.
The SIT reportedly found skeletal remains during an operation in Banglegudde forest area near the Nethravathi bathing ghat too.
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Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
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According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
