Mangaluru, Aug. 17 -- The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala case has intensified its investigation even as the missing case of Ananya Bhat, filed by her mother Sujatha Bhat, has come into the spotlight.

Sujatha Bhat released the passport-size photograph of her daughter, Ananya Bhat, for the first time, following mounting questions about the girl's identity and her disappearance. Until now, despite filing a complaint, Sujatha had not provided any photograph, raising doubts in public and among investigators.

According to the complaint, Ananya, a medical college student, had visited the Dharmasthala temple with her friends but never returned. Sujatha, who was then working as a stenographer with the CBI in Kolkata, all...