Mangaluru: The brain mapping process in connection with the suspicious death of 15-year-old Sumanth from Sambolya near Gerukatte in Beltangady taluk is progressing, with scientific tests on his brother and two uncles now completed at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Madiwala, Bengaluru.
Sumanth’s brother Sudarshan and his uncles Radhakrishna and Lakshminarayana underwent the tests on different dates as part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death. The police are now expected to examine the findings and proceed with tests involving other suspects identified in the case.
Tests conducted in Bengaluru
According to the latest information, Sudarshan underwent brain mapping at the FSL in Madiwala on August 28. The procedure lasted approximately four hours.
Radhakrishna, who is a priest from Perla, underwent the test on August 29, while Lakshminarayana, a cook from Kasaragod, was tested on September 1. Both of their procedures reportedly lasted around three hours each.
Following the completion of the tests, all three returned to their respective hometowns.
The tests form part of the scientific investigation being conducted by the Beltangady police with prior permission from the court.
Five family members questioned earlier
Before the latest round of scientific testing, five members of Sumanth’s family were questioned at the Madiwala FSL on August 10 and 11.
The five were Sumanth’s father Subrahmanya Nayak, mother Rathnavathi, brother Sudarshan, and uncles Radhakrishna and Lakshminarayana.
During the first phase, Subrahmanya Nayak and Rathnavathi were questioned on August 10. Sudarshan was also questioned separately on the same day. On August 11, Radhakrishna and Lakshminarayana were questioned and their statements were recorded.
Police and forensic experts are comparing the responses obtained during the questioning with information gathered during the investigation.
However, the latest report states that the father and mother were not subjected to the brain mapping procedure, while the scientific tests have now been completed on Sudarshan and the two uncles.
Sumanth died in January
Sumanth, a ninth-standard student at Gerukatte Government High School, was a resident of Sambolya in Odilnala village.
The teenager died under suspicious circumstances on the morning of January 14, 2026. According to reports, he had left home in the early hours to attend Dhanupuja at a nearby temple.
His body was subsequently found in a pond near his home, raising questions about the circumstances that led to his death.
The circumstances surrounding the death have remained unresolved, prompting the police to investigate the case from different angles.
Police had formed a special team
Following the death, police formed a special team to investigate the case. There were suspicions that Sumanth’s death may not have been accidental or natural, and the possibility of a planned killing was also examined during the investigation.
Despite efforts to establish what happened, the case remained unresolved. Police subsequently moved towards scientific investigative methods, including brain mapping and narco-analysis, after obtaining the necessary court permission.
The process began at the FSL in Madiwala in August. Earlier reports stated that the answers provided by family members during the first phase would be compared with information already gathered by investigators.
Other suspects may undergo tests
With the scientific testing of Sudarshan, Radhakrishna and Lakshminarayana now completed, police are expected to focus on other individuals identified as suspects during the investigation.
Earlier reports indicated that the police department was preparing to subject other suspects to brain mapping as part of the next stage of the investigation.
The findings from the scientific procedures will have to be assessed along with other evidence collected by investigators. The completion of the tests does not by itself establish the involvement of any individual in Sumanth’s death.
Investigation led by Beltangady Circle Inspector
The investigation is being conducted under the leadership of Beltangady Circle Inspector Ravi B.S.
The latest scientific procedures are part of the broader investigation aimed at establishing the circumstances surrounding Sumanth’s death. Police are expected to analyse the results alongside statements, existing investigation records and other available evidence before deciding on further action.
Sumanth’s family has continued to seek clarity over his death. His father, Subrahmanya Nayak, has expressed confidence in the police investigation and has reportedly urged authorities to extend the scientific testing to other suspects after completing the procedures involving family members.
Conclusion
The investigation into the suspicious death of 15-year-old Sumanth in Beltangady has entered another stage with the completion of brain mapping tests on his brother Sudarshan and uncles Radhakrishna and Lakshminarayana.
The police had earlier questioned five family members at the Bengaluru FSL and are now expected to examine the scientific findings before deciding on further steps. Other suspects may also undergo brain mapping as the investigation continues.
While suspicions surrounding Sumanth’s death have remained unresolved since January, the police are using scientific methods alongside conventional investigation to establish what happened to the teenager.