CHITRADURGA: The District Sessions Court in Chitradurga has put off hearing of the anticipatory bail petition filed by Murugha Mutt pontiff Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru to September 1.
Meanwhile, seers of various religious mutts held a press conference in Chitradurga today. “Swami (Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru), after being acquitted of all charges, will take the Mutt (Sri Murugha Mutt) to greater heights, a seer said.
“Only Swami Ji (Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru) has the right to remove people from the Mutt, no one else can do so,” said another seer present in the press conference addressed by seers of various religious Mutts. “Children are like God. The probe will bring out the truth,” he added.
An FIR under the POCSO Act has been registered against the pontiff of the influential Murugha Math in Chitradurga after two minor girls made allegations of sexual harassment against him. According to the FIR, the girls were abused for over two years.
The Murugha Mutt is also known to be an influential institution with a long list of politicians visiting regularly. Earlier this month, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the Murugha Mutt along with party leaders D K Shivakumar and K C Venugopal. The pontiff also gave Rahul Gandhi the ‘Lingadeekshe’, which is an official ceremony inviting a person into the Lingayat sect. (ANI)