Bengaluru/ Udupi/Mangaluru, 23 Aug

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday confirmed the arrest of the Dharmasthala complainant who had claimed to have buried hundreds of bodies, many bearing signs of sexual abuse, but said that the probe will continue.  No conclusion could be drawn until the SIT completes its probe, he remarked.

“Based on the complainant’s complaint, a probe began. Now that he has been arrested, the investigation will continue based on his statements," he said on Saturday.

“As the investigation is on, no information can be shared….. (Only the) SIT will share the details," Parameshwara added.

Parameshwara said it was unclear whether there was network, or “conspiracy” behind the complaint. “Once the probe report comes, it will be known."

On whether the SIT probe would end with the arrest of the complainant, he said, “It cannot be said.” Parameshwara added that Sujata Bhatt’s complaint was under investigation.

Sujata had earlier claimed her daughter, Ananya Bhat, went missing after a trip to Dharmasthala in 2003. She has since made contradictory statements, reportedly saying she never had a daughter and that a false complaint was filed at the instigation of others. She later retracted that statement.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the government has maintained that action will be taken against those who are wrong.

"BJP people had not spoken anything, they are fence sitters, after I spoke on the issue (calling it a conspiracy) they are speaking," Shivakumar said. "The first family of Dharmasthala spoke to the CM and appreciated formation of SIT.”

Shivakumar said the government didn’t favour any particular side. "We are in favour of justice. We don't want politics to be played in religion," he added. Shivakumar had recently alleged "conspiracy" to tarnish Dharmasthala's image.

Cops summon YouTuber after court grants bail

The police have issued a notice to YouTuber MD Sameer directing him to appear before the investigating officer on 24 August, officials said on Saturday. Police said the notice, pasted at his residence in Ballari, came after a Mangaluru court granted Sameer anticipatory bail on 21 August.

Sameer faces criminal charges over content related to the Dharmasthala case.

A case has been registered against him at the Dharmasthala police station under Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 240 (giving false information) and 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

According to police, the charges stem from a video uploaded by Sameer in which he made allegations linked to the case. The SIT is also examining his role as part of its ongoing probe, officials said.

Sameer had earlier secured bail from a Mangaluru court in one of the cases, after which, police sources say, he grew emboldened—appearing in livestreams and boasting that he could “do whatever he wanted.”

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also reportedly begun probing financial angles linked to his activities.