YouTuber admits to SIT he made videos on Dharmasthala for views and likes

MANGALURU: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala case, has continued its questioning of masked complainant Chinnaiah while also questioning YouTuber Abhishek on Thursday.

YouTuber Abhishek, who runs a channel by the name of United Media, was grilled till late on Wednesday night. Armed with a search warrant, the Belthangady police also visited the house of another YouTuber Sameer Md at Bannerghatta in Bengaluru, but had to return as there was no one in the house.

Even before the SIT had begun exhumations in Dharmasthala, Abhishek and another complainant Jayanth T had gone inside the forested area at Banglegudde looking for human skeletons. He had also posted false information about the alleged mass burials and Ananya Bhat.

Abhishek reportedly told the SIT that Girish Mattannanavar had contacted him six months ago and that he created the YouTube videos for likes and views. He also broke down before the police officials, sources said. The SIT is also likely to summon a few other YouTubers who had posted videos on the Dharmasthala issue.

Chinnaiah’s mobile phone and other belongings were recovered from Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi’s house in Ujire.

Meanwhile, the SIT continued questioning of Chinnaiah after securing three days custody on Wednesday. The team is likely to take him to Delhi, Mandya and Chennai over the next two days before custody ends on September 6.

When he was produced before the court on Wednesday, Chinnaiah reportedly broke down and expressed regret for his actions. “I only did as I was directed to do. Now, I don’t even trust the lawyer who was with me”, he said in court.