Dharmasthala case: SIT submits 7,005-page final investigation report to Belthangady court

Mangalore Today News Network

Belthangadi, July 15, 2026: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala case submitted its comprehensive final report to the Belthangadi court on Wednesday afternoon.

The SIT had previously submitted a 3,923-page perjury (false evidence) report on November 20, 2025, under Section 215 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against C.N. Chinnaiah, Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi, Girish Mattannavar, Jayanth T., Vittal Gowda, and Sujata Bhat. However, the court declined to accept that report and directed the team to file a complete, final report.

In compliance with the court’s directive, the SIT presented the final investigation report, compiled across 12 files, to Belthangadi Additional Civil Judge Shashank Nagendra Bhat at 3:00 PM today. This exhaustive 7,005-page document combines the initial 3,923 pages of the perjury report with an additional 3,082 pages of fresh investigation details.

SIT Superintendent of Police (SP) C.A. Simon, Inspectors Kusumadhar and Manjunath, and other department staff were present in the courtroom during the submission. One of the key accused in the case, Chinnaiah, was also present during the court proceedings.