CHITRADURGA: Referring to rape accused Lingayat seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah on Monday said that, “No one is guilty until convicted. Many MLAs and MPs are murder accused but no one is guilty until convicted”.
While talking to media persons in Belagavi, he said, “Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also once accused of murder charges and later got clean chit. Many MLAs and MPs are murder accused, but no one is guilty until convicted.”
Last week, the police have filed a charge sheet against rape accused Chitradurga Lingayat mutt seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru.
Speaking to ANI, Chitradurga SP K Parashuram said along with the seer, the police have also slapped charges against hostel warden Rashmi and another accused in the case, Paramashivaiah.
However, the police are gathering evidence against two more accused persons Gangadharaiah and a minor. The charge sheet was submitted by the investigating officer in the court on October 27. The statements by the victims in connection with the second case against the seer have also been recorded, the SP said, adding that the parents of the victims had also recorded their statements.
The accused seer was taken into police custody and questioned in the case. The police have also recorded the statements of other girls who levelled allegations against the Lingayat mutt seer. The seer is alleged to have abused more than 15 girls sexually.
The police said they have sought more information in the case from Odanadi, a NGO, and its founder Stanley. The police are also investigating allegations of drug abuse inside the mutt and are awaiting for medical reports.
The police had earlier registered one more FIR in Mysuru’s Nazarabad Police Station in connection with the alleged sexual harassment of the children of the employees working in the Mutt.
The FIR, containing as many as seven names, including the Murugha mutt seer Shivakumar Swamy and the hostel warden Rashmi, was lodged on the basis of a complaint filed with the help of an Odanadi organization and the matter is likely to be transferred to Chitradurga rural police station. (ANI)