CHITRADURGA: The district sessions court on Friday sent the chief pontiff of Sri Murugha Mutt, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru to police custody for four days. The seer will be in police custody till September 5. As per reports, the police had requested the court for five days of custody.
Earlier on Thursday, the police arrested Sharanaru for the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls.
Earlier in the day, the chief pontiff of Sri Murugha Mutt, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru was shifted to the district hospital after complaining of chest pain from where he was later taken to the district sessions court.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who was in Mangaluru, said that his government is not liable to answer the allegation of “delayed” arrest of the seer in the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls and added that the state police have been given full freedom in handling of the case.
During a media interaction, the CM said, “We don’t need to answer any allegations. I have already said that everything will be done according to the law. It’s not appropriate to speak now. We have given a free hand to the police and they’re doing their job.”
An FIR under the POCSO Act was registered against the pontiff of the influential Murugha Mutt 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. (ANI)