Sujatha Bhat says no to police summons, alleges officer helped leak witness confession
Writes letter to CJI, CM against investigating officer of Dharmasthala Mass Burial case
Mangaluru: A complaint has been submitted by a senior citizen, Sujatha Bhat, mother of Ananya Bhat, a medical student who went missing over two decades ago, raising allegations of misconduct and breach of confidentiality by the Dharmasthala PSI while investigating the Mass Burial case.
In a formal complaint submitted through her advocate, Sujatha Bhat has raised concerns over what she calls the unlawful disclosure of a confidential witness statement recorded in the Dharmasthala mass burial investigation. The complaint has been addressed to the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, the Director General & Inspector General of Police, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, and the State Home Minister.
The statement points to a serious breach of legal procedure, stating that a confession made before a police officer, involving information about the burial sites of multiple bodies, was made public in violation of confidentiality rules. This, the legal team claims, not only endangers the witness but also casts doubt on the integrity of the investigation.
The press release draws a direct connection between this act and the Dharmasthala mass burial case, in which a former sanitation worker recently appeared before a magistrate, confessed to burying bodies under coercion, and submitted skeletal remains. The case has since triggered fresh forensic investigations and state-wide attention. Sujatha Bhat's daughter Ananya went missing in the same area two decades ago, and the family has long suspected foul play. With the recent revelations, they believe Ananya’s disappearance could be linked to the alleged mass burials.
Sujatha Bhat, who is now a senior citizen with no immediate family support, says the conduct of the officer has left her with no confidence in the fairness of the probe. Her lawyer stated that the officer’s behaviour has been “biased, unprofessional, and unlawful,” and that the trust in the investigation has completely broken down.
In response to a recent notice served to her, Sujatha Bhat has decided not to appear before the officer, citing legitimate concerns regarding the impartiality and lawfulness of the investigation. Her legal team has informed the authorities that she will be filing a detailed complaint justifying her refusal to comply with the officer's summons. In the meantime, her legal counsel has advised the police officer to escalate the matter to his superiors and strictly follow legal procedures moving forward.
The press note further urges the concerned police officer to reflect on his duties as a public servant and ensure that all actions moving forward strictly adhere to the law. It also advises him to immediately bring this issue to the attention of his senior officers, should his role require it.
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23-year-old woman found dead at Delhi home; suicide suspected
New Delhi (PTI): A 23-year-old woman was found dead in her house in Delhi's Prem Nagar area, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide, an official said on Tuesday.
The deceased, identified as Anjali Singh, was found motionless in her room on Monday by her sister and her neighbour.
Police said her father, Vinod Kumar Singh (51), told them that he and his wife were away at work at the time of the incident, while their son and the other daughter were also not at home at the time of the incident.
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According to the family, the room in which Anjali was found was locked from the inside. The door was later forcibly opened by a neighbour and her sister with the help of a crowbar.
Her body was found lying on the bed inside the room, police said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that Anjali had allegedly hanged herself using a piece of cloth tied to the ceiling fan.
It is suspected that the noose eventually might have loosened or torn off, resulting in her being found lying on the bed.
Family members informed the police that Anjali was a final-year student of a librarian science course from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). About a week ago, her final-year examination results were declared, and she had failed, following which she had been under depression, they said.
The family has not raised any allegation of foul play, police said, adding that no suicide note or external injury marks were found on the body during the initial inspection.
Inquest proceedings have been initiated in the matter as per the law. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death, and further investigation is underway, police added.
