Kannada YouTuber Sameer MD appeared before the Belthangady police in Mangaluru, Karnataka, to address allegations of defamation stemming from a viral video about the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple. The Belthangady police had registered a suo motu case against Sameer on July 12, 2025, following a 23-minute video on his YouTube channel Dhoota, which allegedly contained unverified and inflammatory claims about an alleged mass burial case linked to the temple. The video, deemed provocative by authorities, prompted notices to be pasted at Sameer’s residences in Ballari and Bengaluru, directing him to appear for questioning.

Accompanied by three lawyers, Sameer recorded his statement at the Belthangady police station, cooperating with Investigating Officer Nagesh K. The YouTuber, who hails from Ballari, had secured anticipatory bail from the Dakshina Kannada Principal District and Sessions Court on August 21, 2025, shielding him from immediate arrest. The court’s conditions included a Rs 75,000 personal bond, cooperation with the investigation, and a directive to refrain from tampering with witnesses or committing similar offenses. Sameer’s legal team presented documents to support his defense, citing security concerns that led to his interrogation at Belthangady instead of Dharmasthala.

The controversy, amplified by Sameer’s video garnering over 3.1 million views, has stirred significant debate, with allegations of misinformation and attempts to incite unrest. The case ties into broader scrutiny of the Dharmasthala temple following claims by a former sanitation worker, later arrested, about alleged crimes. Sameer’s earlier legal troubles, including a Rs 10 crore defamation lawsuit in April 2025 over a video on the 2012 Sowjanya case, highlight his recurring conflicts with authorities over sensitive content. As the Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues its probe, this high-profile case raises questions about the boundaries of online content creation and the use of AI-generated material in public discourse.

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