Twist in Dharmasthala Probe: Activist Girish Mattannavar Accused of Witness Tampering; Calls it a Political Conspiracy

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Belthangady : In a significant twist to the ongoing investigation into the alleged burial case in Dharmasthala, the complainant, Chinnaiah C.N., visited the Special Investigation Team (SIT) office in Belthangady on Monday to lodge a formal complaint against former police officer and activist Girish Mattannavar, alongside others. A former sanitation worker at Dharmasthala, Chinnaiah alleged that the individuals named in his complaint have been actively trying to intimidate his family members. He stated that following his recent filing of a writ petition in the High Court, Girish Mattannavar and others have reached out to his family in a calculated bid to derail the active investigation, influence crucial witnesses, and compromise the integrity of the case.

Detailing the incidents in his complaint, Chinnaiah noted that on June 12, a YouTuber contacted his relative, Purushotham, questioning him aggressively about the writ petition and persistently demanding to know who was backing it. The YouTuber reportedly sought Chinnaiah’s contact details, attempted to extract sensitive family background information, and subtly exerted pressure. According to the complaint, Girish Mattannavar allegedly contacted another relative, Ravi—Chinnaiah’s wife’s nephew—later that same night, seeking similar details and trying to gather intel on the petition. Chinnaiah expressed deep suspicion that these indirect threats were part of a coordinated effort to force him into withdrawing his legal battle, adding that both Purushotham and Ravi, who could be pivotal witnesses in the case, are now genuinely fearing for their safety. Consequently, Chinnaiah has demanded stringent legal action against Mattannavar and the YouTuber, while seeking immediate police protection for his entire family.

Meanwhile, the accused activist Girish Mattannavar has strongly countered the allegations by releasing audio recordings of the two specific phone conversations he had with Purushotham and Ravi. In an official statement to the media, Mattannavar rubbished the intimidation claims, labeling Chinnaiah’s complaint as entirely fabricated. He argued that this is a desperate, larger conspiracy orchestrated by the actual culprits behind the notorious series of sexual assaults and murders in Dharmasthala to derail the SIT’s progress. Mattannavar firmly asserted that a powerful lobby is using Chinnaiah as a mere puppet to shield themselves from justice, maintaining that the leaked audio explicitly proves the interactions were entirely cordial and friendly, with Chinnaiah’s own relative admitting that a deeper political conspiracy seems to be at play.