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The case stems from the BJP MLA’s allegation that Tamil Nadu MP Sasikanth Senthil was the “mastermind” behind the Dharmasthala secret burials controversy
Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil (L) and BJP MLA G Janardhana Reddy | File Image
Sasikanth Senthil, a Congress MP from Tamil Nadu and former Karnataka-cadre IAS officer, filed a criminal defamation case against BJP MLA G Janardhana Reddy.
The case stems from Reddy’s allegation that Senthil was the “mastermind” behind the Dharmasthala secret burials controversy.
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Alleging a “coordinated right-wing attempt” to target him for opposing their politics, Senthil, who served as Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, said he sensed an effort to inject Tamil Nadu politics into Karnataka.
He firmly denied any involvement in the case and dismissed the accusations outright.
The defamation suit was lodged before a special court for lawmakers in Bengaluru, with Judge KN Shivakumar scheduled to hear the matter on September 11.
Reddy publicly demanded that the state government recommend a probe by either the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into Senthil’s alleged involvement in the issue.
He accused the MP of attempting to tarnish the reputation of Dharmasthala, a prominent temple town, citing claims made by a former sanitation worker.
“The masked man hails from Tamil Nadu. Senthil, who is also from Tamil Nadu, is associated with leftists. He resigned from his position to get a Congress ticket and win elections. He must be subjected to investigation,” Reddy said, referring to complainant CN Chinnaiah, initially known only as the “masked man”.
Reddy, the Gangavathi MLA, further alleged, “It was Senthil who persuaded Rahul Gandhi to direct Siddaramaiah to form a Special Investigation Team. He could have suggested a CBI or NIA investigation, but why SIT? The Congress Government in the state is making a suspicious move by not questioning Senthil in connection with the mass burial case.”
Senthil, who resigned as an IAS before joining the Congress, had earlier posted in Ballari. Reddy was arrested in an illegal mining case on the very first day of Senthil’s posting as assistant commissioner there.
Representing Senthil, his counsel told the court, “The complainant (Senthil) is highly depressed, as it has caused great harm to him and dented his reputation and standing in society, while also affecting his work as a Parliament member, as people are doubting his integrity in view of the malicious statement made by the accused (Reddy).”
“Thus, the complainant is highly defamed by the malicious and libellous statement made by the accused, describing him as anti-Hindu, a mastermind, and instigating certain persons to bring disrepute to Dharmasthala.”
Speaking to reporters, Senthil expressed shock at being implicated in the case, dismissing the allegations as “baseless and politically motivated.”
After the suit was filed, Reddy responded from Ballari, saying he had faced several defamation cases in the past and was prepared to contest this one as well.
The controversy erupted after CN Chinnaiah, later arrested for perjury, claimed that over two decades he had buried numerous bodies—including those of women showing signs of sexual assault—in Dharmasthala.
The state government subsequently set up an SIT, which has since carried out excavations at several sites in the temple town.
Tamil Nadu, India, India
September 07, 2025, 16:01 IST
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