Overview

• Tamil Nadu Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil filed a criminal defamation complaint in Bengaluru against Karnataka BJP MLA Janardhan Reddy for linking him to the Dharmasthala case.
• Senthil denied any role in the matter and called the allegations baseless and politically motivated, rejecting claims he handled a skull tied to the case.
• The City Civil Court has taken cognizance of the complaint, a notice is to be served to Reddy, and a hearing is scheduled for September 11.
• Reddy said he would contest the case, repeated his accusation that Senthil was behind attacks on Dharmasthala, and urged an SIT inquiry into Senthil along with an NIA or CBI probe.
• The state-formed SIT continues to probe the Dharmasthala allegations after conducting excavations, and the original complainant, identified as C N Chinnaiah, was arrested on perjury charges.