Dharmasthala probe twist: SIT arrests complainant; Home Minister says 'final report awaited'

MANGALURU: The complainant witness in the alleged Dharmasthala mass burial case was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday. Home Minister G Parameshwara confirmed this to media persons in Udupi.

“The SIT has arrested the complainant witness, and he is in police custody. Since the investigation is in progress, more details cannot be disclosed.

We cannot disclose more about the case until the SIT submits a final report. There is a need for the SIT to find whether there is a racket behind the case. Only through a final report will such details be disclosed.""Only the SIT can disclose why he was arrested and the purpose.

Based on the complainant witness’s statement, we commenced the investigation. We do not instruct the SIT on how to conduct the investigation,” the Home Minister said.On BJP’s allegations of ‘conspiracy’ against Dharmasthala in the case, Parameshwara said they will do it, and they will continue to do so. “Many have been commenting and making statements. However, we cannot conclude on the basis of their statements and comments,” he said.

To a query on the need for a narco analysis on the complainant witness, the minister said that the SIT will make its own decision. To a query on Sujatha Bhat, who approached the Dakshina Kannada SP’s office last month, alleging that her daughter Ananya Bhat went missing from Dharmasthala in 2003, the Home Minister said that the SIT is probing the case too.Officials of the SIT are likely to produce him before the court in Belthangady after a medical check-up. Dharmasthala Police registered a case under Section 211(a) of the BNS on July 4 based on the complaint made by the complainant witness. Meanwhile, the complainant witness was granted cover and protection under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018. The Karnataka govt ordered the formation of the SIT in an order issued on July 19.