SC sends Murugha math seer to judicial custody for 4 months, orders trial to be completed by then

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that Murugha Math seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of the Virakta Math at Doddapete in Davanagere district be sent to judicial custody for four months. The court also directed that the trial in the case be completed in that time.

Earlier, the High Court of Karnataka had granted conditional bail to Murugha Sharanaru, who was jailed in connection with a POCSO case. Questioning this, the petitioner approached the Supreme Court. After hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court issued an order to cancelling the bail granted by the Karnataka High Court and sent him to prison.

The Supreme Court has also directed that the investigation in the case be completed within four months. If the investigation is not completed within the period, judicial custody is likely to be extended for an additional two months. Meanwhile, the Special Court for POCSO cases has made arrangements for recording the statements of the victims.