Arrest of Key Accuser in Karnataka Case
In Karnataka's Dharmasthala, a special investigation team (SIT) has apprehended a key complainant who has alleged multiple murders, rapes, and the burial of bodies over the past two decades. Authorities confirmed the arrest on Saturday, identifying the individual as C.N. Chinnaiya, who had previously appeared before the SIT wearing a mask. He was presented before First-Class Judicial Magistrate Vijayendra, where the SIT requested a ten-day custody for further investigation. The court granted this request, and the SIT, led by Pranav Mohanty, interrogated Chinnaiya until late Friday night.
For several months, Sujata Bhatt has claimed that her daughter, Ananya Bhatt, went missing from Dharmasthala in 2003, alleging that influential individuals suppressed the case. However, scrutiny of records, testimonies, and investigation findings raises significant doubts about the validity of her claims.
Sujata asserts that her daughter was a medical student at Kasturba Medical College in Manipal. Nevertheless, the college has confirmed that no student by that name has ever been enrolled. There are no school records, admission letters, or official documents to support her claims. Even family members and acquaintances have stated they were unaware of Sujata having a daughter.
The controversy intensified when a former sanitation worker, Bhima, claimed to have buried bodies in Dharmasthala, presenting a skull as evidence. However, the SIT determined that the remains were male, effectively discrediting this assertion.
Sujata has also alleged that she was kidnapped, tied to a chair, and left in a coma in a hospital for three months. However, local hospitals have no records matching her description. She further claimed to have worked as a stenographer with the CBI in Kolkata, but the agency has no employment records for her. Between 1999 and 2007, Sujata was known to reside with Prabhakar Baliga in Ripponpet, Shivamogga, and local publications depicted them as 'childless animal lovers,' a stark contrast to her current narrative of raising a medical student daughter.
In recent years, Sujata has accused the Dharmasthala religious family of humiliating her and attempting to silence her, although her accounts of these incidents vary. Critics argue that her allegations seem more connected to personal vendetta and public sympathy rather than a quest for justice, with the 'missing daughter' narrative serving as an emotional appeal.
As discrepancies mount, local devotees and residents have urged the Karnataka police to take action against what they perceive as a deliberate smear campaign against Dharmasthala. The SIT's findings—male remains, false employment claims, and missing institutional records—have intensified calls for accountability.
What was once portrayed as a mother's tragic fight for justice is beginning to resemble a fabricated story. The absence of evidence for Ananya Bhatt's existence, lack of official records, and the exposure of repeated false claims suggest that this case is veering towards fiction rather than fact.
In light of the allegations regarding numerous murders and rapes in Dharmasthala over the past two decades, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated on Saturday that strict action will be taken against wrongdoers. He emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that the government is committed to justice. Responding to questions about the complainant's arrest, Shivakumar noted that BJP members are now speaking out after previously remaining silent, particularly after he labeled the issue a conspiracy. He mentioned that the leading families of the temple and institutions have welcomed the investigation and praised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his decision.
