Made up missing daughter story, says Dharmasthala complainant

A woman whose account of a daughter who went missing in 2003 fuelled the growing controversy in Dharmasthala over allegations of mass burials, sexual assault, and disappearances of women said on Friday that her story was fabricated.

- Arun Dev

Speaking toa YouTube channel, the woman, identified as Sujatha Bhat, said that she was persuaded by Girish Mattannavar and T Jayanti, two activists prominentin the case, to claim that her daughter ‘Ananya had disappeared in Dharmasthala in 2003. “It is not true. There was never any daughter named Ananya Bhat,” Sujatha said.The photograph circulated as evidence of Ananya’s existence ‘was also fabricated, she conceded.

“[twas all fake. Completely fake.”

“Some people told me to say it.I was asked to do it because of the property issue. That's the only reason,” she said when asked why she made such a claim. The property issue, in question, isa plot of land owned by her grandfather which ‘was allegedly taken by the Dhar-