Sujatha Bhat, the woman whose claims of a missing daughter in 2003 fueled a controversy in Dharmasthala involving allegations of mass burials, sexual assault, and disappearances, has retracted her claims, stating that her story was fabricated. Bhat has also been taken into custody by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
In her initial complaint, Bhat claimed that her 18-year-old daughter, Ananya, disappeared in May 2003 during a trip to Dharmasthala. She stated that Ananya's friends had gone shopping while she stayed near the temples, but when they returned, Ananya was gone. Bhat further alleged that she was abducted, tied up, and warned not to return to Dharmasthala or speak about what happened when she tried to find her daughter. She claimed to have been assaulted, left in a coma, and treated in a private hospital in Bengaluru before recovering a month later.
However, Bhat has now admitted that her story was false. Speaking to a YouTube channel, she revealed that she made the claims due to a property dispute with the Dharmasthala temple authorities. According to Bhat, some people asked her to make the claims because of the property issue, which concerns land owned by her grandfather that was allegedly taken by the temple authorities. She identified Girish Mattannavar and T Jayanti, as the activists who pushed her to fabricate the story, though she denied that any money was exchanged.
The case gained renewed attention after a whistleblower alleged undocumented burials in forest areas, which he claimed were ordered by temple authorities. Bhat then filed a fresh complaint, demanding a DNA test to find her daughter's remains. However, authorities discovered discrepancies in her claims, including confirmation from the CBI that she was never an employee and, crucially, that she never had a daughter named Ananya Bhat. Bhat has since asked for forgiveness for her false claims.
The SIT, which was formed to investigate the alleged mass burials and disappearances, has now arrested Bhat. This development raises concerns about the credibility of the claims and the investigation process. The activists named by Bhat have yet to respond to the allegations.
