Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady

Beltangady, Nov 16: Pro-Sowjanya activist Jayant T has written to the Governor and the Director General of Police alleging that officers of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) assaulted him and pressured him to give false statements during the ongoing probe into the Dharmasthala case.

In his complaint, Jayant alleged that SIT officers — Jitendra Dayama, Simon, Manjunath R J, Manjunath Gowda and Gunapal — threatened him after summoning him for inquiry, and later brought complainant Chinnayya to the room and made him assault Jayant severely. He also alleged that the same officers assaulted Chinnayya and used him to threaten Jayant, attempting to force false statements from both.

Jayant further stated that he was kept in illegal custody till late night without food or water, and was subjected to mental, physical and emotional torture. His wife and daughter were also summoned for inquiry, and statements were allegedly taken from them against their will.

According to the letter, when he refused to give a false statement, the officers threatened him saying they would file cases against him and imprison him and those associated with him. Jayant claimed that he sustained injuries due to the alleged assault and later received treatment at a private hospital in Ujire.

He stated that no statement was recorded from him voluntarily; instead, the officials typed statements on their own and summoned him to the SIT office daily, where he was allegedly subjected to further harassment and pressure to give false testimony. Jayant said he filed the complaint after obtaining temporary relief from the court due to fear of further intimidation by the SIT.

Jayant wrote: “Instead of identifying the real culprits, the SIT has violated the scope of investigation by intimidating and threatening complainants, assaulting them, extracting false statements, and attempting to frame an innocent person. Issuing an arrest notice under Section 35 is itself a serious offence. I request protection for my life and the safety of my family. If anything happens to me, this letter should be treated as my dying declaration.”

He requested that legal action be initiated against the SIT officers named in the complaint under Sections 115, 118(1), 126, 127, 131, 232, 351 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and sought permission under Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to proceed against the officials.

Jayant added that due to fear for his life, he filed the complaint immediately after securing an interim stay from the court on further investigation.

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