BENGALURU: The police on Monday stopped Murugha Mutt seer Shivamurthy Sharanaru while he was en route to Maharashtra, at Bankapur in Haveri district. The seer returned to Chitradurga thereafter. He has been charged under the POCSO Act for alleged sexual assault of two minor girls in an institution run by the Mutt.
According to the complaint, two minor girls aged 15 and 16 were sexually assaulted for three-and-a-half years.
Reacting to the allegations against the seer, Housing Minister V Somanna said, “Whatever happened in connectin with the Sri Muruga Mutt of Chitradurga is unfortunate, but the police have been given a free hand to investigate the case. I was a trustee in the Mutt for 30 years during the time of the previous seer. I have known Shivakumar Swamiji for many years. Let the police investigate the case and let the truth come out. When the case is under investigation, it is inappropriate to speak about it.”
On Sunday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said that police are investigating the case and the whole truth will come out.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had visited Muruga Mutt seer Shivamurthy Sharanaru during his Karnataka visit recently and was ceremoniously initiated into the sect. (ANI)