Dharmasthala Ananya Bhat Case Twist: Sujatha Admits Story Was Fabricated, Blames Influencers

In a dramatic twist, Bengaluru-based Sujatha Bhat, who earlier claimed that her daughter Ananya Bhatt went missing from Dharmasthala in 2003, has now retracted her statement. In multiple interviews, Sujatha admitted that the story of her daughter was fictitious and alleged that she was influenced by Girish Mattannavar and T. Jayant to make such claims.

Sujatha Bhat's Confession

Speaking to the YouTube channel Insight Rush, Sujatha Bhat confessed,"I lied because Girish Mattannavar and T. Jayant told me to. Please forgive me, I made a mistake. I apologize to Dharmasthala, to the people of Karnataka, and to the people of the country."

She further added that she wanted to end the controversy and live peacefully,"I lied to the people of Karnataka. I apologise. Please free me from this controversy. I just want to live my life. Please forgive me."

SIT Steps In

Amid the confusion, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged mass burials in Dharmasthala has issued a notice to Sujatha Bhat. The SIT directed her to appear at the Belthangady SIT office and submit documents related to her daughter, Ananya Bhatt.

According to officials, Sujatha has assured the police that she will cooperate and appear for questioning soon. The SIT has also expanded its investigation to Shivamogga, Bengaluru, and Udupi, collecting relevant documents.

Questions Over Ananya Bhat's Existence

While Sujatha Bhat maintained for years that her daughter was a medical student in Mangaluru and Manipal, SIT investigations revealed that no official records or admission documents exist under the name Ananya Bhat. Except for a passport-size photograph, no evidence of her existence has been presented so far.

The case has triggered widespread debate in Karnataka. Many are questioning whether the Ananya Bhat case was fabricated for political or personal motives, while others are demanding a transparent SIT probe to bring clarity.