Parameshwara Rejects NIA Probe, Backs SIT on Dharmasthala Case
Parameshwara defends SIT, dismisses BJP’s NIA demand.
Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara firmly rejected calls to transfer the high-profile Dharmasthala case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), asserting that the state’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) is effectively handling the investigation. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Parameshwara emphasized that both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah see no need to involve another agency, dismissing the opposition BJP’s persistent demands for an NIA probe as potentially disruptive to the ongoing investigation.
The controversy erupted when C.N. Chinnaiah, a former sanitation worker, alleged that between 1995 and 2014, he was coerced into burying multiple bodies, including those of women and minors showing signs of sexual assault, in Dharmasthala, implicating the temple town’s administration. Chinnaiah’s claims, later deemed false, led to his arrest on perjury charges. The SIT, constituted by the Congress-led state government, has since conducted excavations along the Netravathi River, uncovering skeletal remains at two sites, though no conclusive evidence has linked them to the allegations. Parameshwara cautioned that commenting on the case could jeopardize the probe, questioning the BJP’s intentions. “Do they want to hamper the investigation? I somehow feel so,” he said, noting that the SIT’s work is proceeding without flaws.
Amid reports of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launching a parallel probe into alleged foreign funding tied to NGOs involved in the Dharmasthala controversy, Parameshwara adopted a neutral stance. “The ED is free to conduct its investigation into financial matters. We don’t know their terms of reference, but let them do it,” he stated, acknowledging the central agency’s focus on potential FEMA violations. The ED’s involvement follows claims that dubious funds were used to fuel a smear campaign against the revered temple town, a charge that has intensified the political slugfest.
Also Read: Siddaramaiah Criticizes BJP’s ‘Political’ Dharmasthala Rally
The BJP’s “Dharmasthala Chalo” rally on September 1 amplified their demand for an NIA investigation, accusing the Congress government of mishandling the case. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar countered on Monday, alleging that the BJP itself was orchestrating a conspiracy to tarnish Dharmasthala’s reputation. Parameshwara, responding to these claims, suggested that Shivakumar might have access to different information, but refrained from elaborating to avoid influencing the SIT’s work.
The minister also addressed a new development in the 2012 Sowjanya case, where a 17-year-old student was allegedly raped and murdered in Dharmasthala. A woman has now claimed to have witnessed Sowjanya’s kidnapping, prompting Parameshwara to confirm that the SIT will investigate this lead. The Home Minister noted that SIT chief Pronab Mohanty, who also heads the Internal Security Division, recently briefed him on various matters, including the Dharmasthala probe.
As political tensions rise, with the BJP accusing the Congress of shielding culprits and the state government defending the SIT’s impartiality, the Dharmasthala case remains a flashpoint. Parameshwara urged restraint, emphasizing that the truth will emerge once the SIT submits its report, expected to clarify the complex and sensitive allegations surrounding this sacred town.
Also Read: Dharmasthala Mystery: Complainant Moves to Withdraw Case
