Dharmasthala, Karnataka: The Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Karnataka government after mass burial allegations in the temple town of Dharmasthala, is now reportedly focusing their probe into an alleged potential conspiracy behind the case.

The investigation was started on the claims of a whistblower-complainant, a former sanitation worker, who alleged that he was forced to burry and cremate over 100 women and girls who had been sexually assaulted, shocking the entire nation. However, the complainant was arrested for perjury and for providing false evidence as officials found inconsistencies in his statements.

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Following the conspiracy allegations, the SIT is now examining the angle. The officials found that the complainant visited Delhi in March this year, prompting them to seek the true intention of the whistleblower, who has been referred to as a masked man as he was granted witness protection.

Notably, on Monday, August 25, the Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara dismissed demands from the opposition BJP that the Dharmasthala case be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He said the police are carrying out a proper investigation, underlining that there was no need for central government involvement.

Read Also: Dharmasthala Mass Burial: Whistleblower Arrested, Woman Says Missing Daughter Story Was Fake

Several BJP leaders have alleged a conspiracy behind the dramatic revelation and subsequent development of Dharmasthala temple and the Heggade family that controls it.

During the exhumation carried out following the mass grave allegations, the officials dug out some remnants of the antibodies from the places the complainant spotted, but found nothing in most of the other places. Additionally, the forensic experts confirmed that the skull the complainant produced was likely a 40-year-old lab specimen, stating it was not genuine evidence of a mass grave.