SIT Busts Dharmasthala 'Mass Burial' Plot; Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar Says 'Truth Prevailed'

In a major breakthrough, the Karnataka Special Investigation Team (SIT) has busted a conspiracy to malign the Dharmasthala temple, terming the 'mass burial' claims as a 'manufactured narrative'. The SIT submitted its findings to the Belthangady court, revealing that accused individuals like Chinnayya and Mahesh Shetty were paid to plant fake evidence, including skulls. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar welcomed the probe, stating, 'I had openly said in the assembly that there is a conspiracy... ultimately the truth has been prevailed.' India Today's Sagai Raj reports that the SIT seeks custody of the five accused. The investigation revealed that the accused were coached and hand-planted evidence to script a fake story, identifying an 'anti-temple lobby' behind the defamation campaign.