Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady

Beltangady, Sep 6: The Dharmasthala skull case has taken a dramatic new turn with the emergence of a crucial video showing the skull being brought out from a forested area. The footage, uploaded on 11 July by Kerala-based YouTuber Manaf on his channel, captures a man named Jayanth lifting the skull from the upper reaches of Banglegudde in Dharmasthala with the help of a knife. The skull was discovered close to a tree where a saree had been tied, casting fresh light on the investigation.

The video clearly depicts Jayanth struggling to haul the skull from the thick undergrowth near the tied saree, confirming suspicions that the skull was indeed found within Dharmasthala’s forest region. This discovery contradicts earlier theories and lends significant weight to the theory that the skull was brought from the forest itself.

Following the release of the video, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) intensified its probe. YouTuber Abhishek was subjected to intense questioning and only released following an overnight interrogation. He remains under investigation on the third day at the Beltangady SIT police station. Jayanth T was similarly questioned late into the night and has been summoned again for further questioning today.

The SIT has also uncovered a Kerala connection in the case. Manaf, who owns the lorry involved in the Shirur landslide tragedy in Uttara Kannada and simultaneously runs a YouTube channel, has been issued a notice to appear for questioning. Manaf’s videos have not only propagated Jayanth’s version of events to Kerala audiences but have also allegedly misled Kerala media outlets. The SIT suspects that Manaf is using this case alongside the Sujata Bhat incident to spread fabricated stories of mass atrocities and murders targeting hundreds of women in Dharmasthala, raising serious concerns for investigators.

Given the escalating gravity of the case, SIT chief and DGP Pranab Mohanty is scheduled to visit the Beltangady SIT office soon. His visit aims to review investigation progress, meet officers, and issue directions for the next steps. With the police custody of Chinnayya ending on Monday, clear guidance on the case’s future course is expected.
The unfolding developments and emerging evidence in the Dharmasthala skull case have injected fresh momentum into the investigation. The involvement of Kerala YouTubers and alleged misinformation campaigns have added complexity, but the SIT is poised to uncover the truth soon.

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