Chitradurga (Karnataka) Chitradurga (Karnataka) 2.: Lingayat seer Dr Murugha Shivamurthy Sharanaru, who was detained after being accused of sexually assaulting minors was taken to a 14-day judicial detention on Friday.The suspect seer was transported to an unknown location after the arrest of him on Thursday night, which took place six days following the FIR was filed against him.
He was later examined for medical reasons and, following that, he was brought before District and Sessions’ court Judge B.K.Komala.
Umesh the lawyer for the seer who is accused of the crime has stated that a plea is scheduled to be filed in the court on Friday, and he is certain of being granted bail in two or three days.
He added that jail officials did not allow him to meet with the seer.
“If the police are able to move an application to bring the suspect seer into custody the petition is rejected,” he said.
The Revenue Minister of the state, R.Ashok broke his silence regarding the issue and said that the law is following its own route of actions in the case.
“Mutts have great respect for each other.Such incidents should not occur.The law of the land has its own sanctity,” he added.
In the meantime, a search operation is in progress for the other three suspects who have fled after their bail applications in the court were rescinded.
The suspects are the junior pontiff Basavaditya secretary of the Mutt Paramashivaiah and Gangadharaiah.
The police also took hostel warden Rashmi into custody.
After the detention of the seer the authorities have transferred the responsibility of Chitradurga Mutt to Mahanta Rudra Swamiji of the Hebbala Mutt.
He is being investigated of a violation of the Prevention of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The suspect is accused of sexually assaulting minor girls between the ages of 15 and 16, with the help of the junior pontiff, lady warden and other members of staff.
mka/