BELTHANGADY: The 'Burude' case, involving allegations of a systematic conspiracy to malign the reputation of Dharmasthala, has taken a major turn. After maintaining silence for a long period, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala has now officially entered the legal fray to fight against the 'Burude Gang' that attempted to tarnish its name.

Key Highlights of the Case:

* Application to Implead as Respondent: Sri Kshetra has filed an application in court requesting to be made a party or a respondent during the hearing of the report submitted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

* Appointment of Senior Counsel: Renowned senior advocates C.V. Nagesh and Mahesh Kaje have been roped in to represent the temple’s interests and present arguments in court.

* Essence of the SIT Report: The SIT has already submitted a comprehensive 4,000-page report to the court. It is reportedly mentioned in the report that six individuals, including 'Maskman' Chinnaiah, were involved in hatching a conspiracy against the Kshetra.

Suspense Over Court’s Decision

The court was expected to pass a significant order based on the SIT report tomorrow, Saturday (January 3). However, with Dharmasthala filing an intervening application, the dynamics of the case have shifted completely.

What Next?

If the court accepts Sri Kshetra’s application, the scope of the legal proceedings will widen further. Consequently, the final order that was expected tomorrow is likely to be postponed. "The Dharmasthala management is now legally prepared to teach a lesson to those who tried to bring disrepute to the Kshetra through false propaganda."