Dharmasthala case: SIT holds marathon meeting on further probe

Udupi: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) under Director General of Police (DGP) Pronab Mohanty held a marathon meeting on Sunday to chalk out next course of investigation.

“DGP Mohanty visited the SIT office and chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials, including Chief Investigation Officer Jeetendra Dayama and Superintendent of Police C A Simon,” sources told DH when contacted.

Mohanty first scrutinised the progress of investigation, inspected the documents and evidences gathered so far.

He reportedly discussed the future course of action while reviewing the financial aspects of the SIT’s functioning.

The meeting examined in depth the complaint filed by Mahesh Shetty Timarodi of Rashtriya Hindu Jagarana Vedike.

Timarodi had raised suspicions about four unnatural deaths in various lodgings in Dharmasthala between 2006 and 2010. Mohanty obtained feedback from officials before taking a decision on whether to expand the investigation in that direction, sources told DH.

Meanwhile Timarodi alleged that “vested interests” were attempting to “weaken” the SIT.

In a separate development, one Venkappa Kotian filed a complaint before Belthangady police against activist Snehamayi Krishna. A few days ago, Snehamayi Krishna, in his complaint to police, had alleged that Vittal Gowda, maternal uncle of Soujanya, was responsible for her murder in 2012. Kotian alleged that Krishna initially informed the police about filing a complaint against Vittal Gowda and later issued statements to the media.

He claimed that these actions were carried out with “malicious intent” to derail the ongoing campaign seeking justice for Soujanya. Kotian expressed suspicions that Krishna was motivated by ‘unknown individuals’ to issue controversial statements. Kotian urged the police to summon Krishna for questioning and to identify persons who instigated him to file the complaint.