SIT must interrogate officer who threatened complainant: Sujatha Bhat's Lawyer
Mangaluru: New allegations have surfaced in the ongoing Dharmasthala case, targeting one of the investigating officers, Manjunath Gowda. Advocate Manjunath N., representing Sujatha Bhat, the mother of missing medical student Ananya Bhat, has claimed that Gowda allegedly coerced the main witness and complainant into altering his statement, even recording the manipulated testimony on his mobile phone.
The lawyer stated that this serious allegation strengthens the case for a deeper and more independent investigation. He urged that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), currently probing the case under the leadership of Pronab Mohanty, must interrogate Officer Manjunath Gowda as part of its proceedings.
According to reliable sources, the SIT had already been maintaining close surveillance on Officer Gowda as a precautionary measure. Today’s development, the lawyer said, should further empower the SIT in uncovering the truth behind the case.
No official statement has yet been released by either the SIT or the legal counsel of the complainant concerning this latest allegation. However, the complaint filed by the legal team representing the victim’s family has reportedly been submitted to the SIT leadership.
The case has drawn widespread public and media attention due to an explosive claim by a former sanitation worker, that he was forced to bury the bodies of hundreds of individuals in and around Dharmasthala.
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Prasidh, Kuldeep limit South Africa to 270 after De Kock's hundred
Visakhapatnam (PTI): India fought back gallantly through Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav after Quinton de Kock struck his 23rd hundred, keeping South Africa to a manageable 270 in the third and series-deciding final ODI, here Saturday.
India won the toss after judging the spin of the coin incorrectly 20 times in a row. They had little hesitation in inserting the Proteas into bat, a clear indication of dew factor dominating the thought.
After Arshdeep Singh sent back Ryan Rickelton early, De Kock (106, 89b, 8x4, 6x4) struck his seventh century against India and put on 113 runs off 124 balls with skipper Temba Bavuma (48, 67b) as the visitors moved to a healthy position.
De Kock was severe on Prasidh (4/66), who erred on length continuously in his first spell (2-0-27-0). The left-hander biffed the pacer for 6, 6, 4 in his second over to milk 18 runs.
The 32-year-old quickly pounced on anything that was short, and pacers Prasidh and Harshit offered him plenty of feed on his pet areas.
Bavuma was more sedate, and made runs through those typical dabs and jabs, occasionally unfurling a drive of elan.
De Kock moved to fifty in 42 balls, and never let the tempo down reaching his hundred in 79 balls.
India found temporary relief when Ravindra Jadeja induced a false slash from Bavuma to get caught by Virat Kohli at point.
The tourists got another move on through a 54-run partnership between De Kock and Matthew Breetzkle for the third wicket, and at 168 for two in 28 overs they were in a good position to press on.
But Breetzke's punishment of part-time spinner Tilak Varma forced a rethink in the Indian camp, as skipper KL Rahul brought back Prasidh for a second spell.
What a masterstroke it turned out to be! The Karnataka man broke the back of South Africa’s top and middle order in an exceptional second spell (4-0-11-3).
Breetzke was the first man to go, trapped plumb in front with a straight one and four balls later Aiden Markram uppishly chipped a fuller delivery to Kohli at short covers.
Prasidh soon castled De Kock, whose ugly cross-batted swipe failed to connect a full length delivery from the pacer.
All of a sudden, SA found themselves at a shaky 199 for five, losing three wickets in the space of three overs.
Once Prasidh was done away with the top and middle-order, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep (4/41) took over and mopped up the tail as SA fell short of even a par total on this track.
