Belthangady: Sumanth mysterious death case — brain mapping of brother, two uncles completed

Belthangady: Sumanth mysterious death case — brain mapping of brother, two uncles completed

Mangalore Today News Network

Belthangady, Sep 5, 2026: The brain-mapping process in connection with the mysterious death of 15-year-old Sumanth of Sambolya near Gerukatte is underway, with the scientific examinations of his brother and two uncles now completed.

Sumanth’s brother Sudarshan underwent brain mapping at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Madiwala, Bengaluru, on August 28. His uncles Radhakrishna and Lakshminarayana underwent the examination on August 29 and September 1, respectively.

Sudarshan, an engineering student at Nitte, underwent the procedure for around four hours. Radhakrishna, a priest from Perla, and Lakshminarayana, a cook from Kasaragod, were examined for approximately three hours each. All three have since returned to their respective hometowns.

Earlier, on August 10 and 11, the first round of questioning of Sumanth’s father Subrahmanya Naik, mother Ratnavathi, brother Sudarshan and uncles Radhakrishna and Lakshminarayana was conducted at the Madiwala FSL. Subrahmanya Naik, a farmer, and Ratnavathi, a homemaker, were not subjected to brain mapping.

Sumanth, a talented Class 9 student of Gerukatte Government High School and a resident of Sambolya in Odilnala village, had died under mysterious circumstances. On the early morning of January 14, 2026, he had left home to attend the ‘Dhanu Pooja’ at the Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple in Nal. His body was later found in a nearby pond.

Suspecting that the death could have been a planned murder, police had formed a special team to investigate the case. However, as the mystery remained unsolved despite extensive efforts, investigators decided to resort to scientific examinations, including narco-analysis and brain mapping, as a last resort. Investigating officer and Circle Inspector Ravi B.S. obtained court permission to conduct the tests.

Following the completion of the examinations of the family members, the police department is expected to proceed with brain mapping of other suspects. Sumanth’s father, Subrahmanya Naik, who has expressed confidence in the police investigation, has urged the authorities to subject the suspects to brain mapping as well after completing the tests on the family members.