Belthangady police from Dakshina Kannada district conducted a search at the Bengaluru residence of YouTuber Sameer M D, who faces charges at the Dharmasthala police station for an AI-generated video allegedly defaming the revered temple town and its hereditary temple head and family.

The operation, executed under a search warrant issued by the Belthangady court on September 3, targeted Sameer’s rented apartment in Hullahalli, Bannerghatta, with Circle Inspector Nagesh Kadri and forensic science personnel leading the effort.

Police sources confirmed that Sameer, who operates the Kannada YouTube channel “Dhoota,” was informed in advance of the search. Authorities seized a computer and a mobile phone believed to have been used to create a 23-minute video titled “Who Are Serial K!llrs of Dharmasthala?,” which garnered over 4 million views since its upload on July 12, 2025.

The video, reportedly generated using artificial intelligence, contained fabricated details beyond the official complaint by a former sanitation worker, who alleged being forced to bury multiple bodies in Dharmasthala, sparking public outrage. The case, registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 192, 240, and 353(1)(b), accuses Sameer of provocation and spreading false information.

Sameer, granted anticipatory bail on August 21, 2025, by the Dakshina Kannada court, has a history of controversy, including a ₹10-crore defamation lawsuit in April 2025 over a video on the 2012 Soujanya murder case. The seized devices will undergo forensic examination to determine their relevance to the ongoing investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Police stated that further action hinges on the forensic findings and court directives, as the case continues to stir debate over online content regulation.

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