Mangaluru: The controversy surrounding the alleged disappearance of a medical student named Ananya Bhat in Dharmasthala has taken a confusing turn after complainant Sujatha Bhat made contradictory statements within hours.

In the video interview released on Friday evening, Sujatha Bhat confessed that she never had a daughter named Ananya Bhat. “It was my mistake. I apologize,” she said, adding that she had been pressured by certain individuals to create and narrate the false story. She named Girish Mattannavar and Jayanth T. as the people who compelled her to make the false claim.

She clarified that no money was offered to her. “I met them only once. They told me to say that I had a daughter and pressured me into it. I never imagined it would escalate to this level and cause such disgrace,” Sujatha Bhat explained.

She further stated that while it was true she had been in a live-in relationship, she supported herself without depending on anyone. She also expressed resentment over family property issues, alleging that when her grandfather’s land was donated to the Dharmasthala temple, her consent as a granddaughter was ignored, making her feel as if she had been erased from the family. “That hurt me deeply, which is why I went along with what they said,” she added.

“All the photos I showed were fake. I never filed a complaint against the Dharmasthala temple or anyone associated with it. I only mentioned Dharmasthala village in my statement,” Sujatha Bhat clarified in the interview.

However, soon after the video began circulating widely, Sujatha Bhat gave a completely different version to TV9.

In her televised statement, she alleged that she was forced to make the earlier confession while being confined inside a car. “They pressured me to say those words. Ananya Bhat is indeed my daughter. They made me take the names of Girish Mattannavar and Mahesh Shetty. I want justice for my daughter, and I will present the full truth before the SIT,” she said from her Bengaluru residence.

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Latur (PTI): A minor girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by an 18-year-old man in Latur, leading to the arrest of the main accused and owners of two cafes where the crime occurred on December 4, police said on Saturday.

Police traced the girl within hours of registering the complaint. The accused, identified as Rihan Gulab Shaikh, was arrested based on the girl's complaint. Two others are owners of two cafes where the crime occurred, police said.

 

Police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), POCSO Act, and the Prevention of Atrocities Act, an official said.