MANGALURU: An advocate representing the complainant in the Dharmasthala mass burial case has reportedly written to senior officials of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), accusing Manjunath Gowda, a police officer on the SIT, of allegedly "threatening and pressuring the complainant to withdraw his complaint."
However, sources within the SIT have denied the allegations. "Nothing like this has happened. These are nothing but baseless allegations. However, we will look into it," an SIT officer told TNIE on condition of anonymity.
Advocate Ananya Gowda, narrating the incident through her complaint, alleged that the incident occurred on the night of Friday, August 1, at the SIT office in Belthangady.
She alleged that the said officer had recorded the statement on his mobile phone. Some sections of the media have reported that the advocate has demanded the removal of the police officer from the SIT.
The advocate in her complaint further stated, "The said officer directed ‘X’(complainant) to make statements on camera to retract and disown his complaint and to implicate outsiders as responsible for his complaint. Further, as stated by ‘X’, Manjunath Gowda recorded ‘X’s statements made under threat on his mobile phone."
"We are truly shocked, and we expect that immediate steps will be taken to address this issue. We request you to immediately exclude Manjunath Gowda from the further stages of this investigation. His exclusion is necessary to allow the complainant-witness to speak freely and without fear during the ongoing investigation," advocate's complaint stated.
