Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the seer of the Chitradurga Lingayat mutt, is accused of rape, and the police have filed a chargesheet against him.
Rashmi, the hostel warden, and Paramashivaiah, another suspect in the case, have all been charged by the police in addition to the seer, according to Chitradurga SP K Parashuram.
However, the police are gathering information regarding two additional suspects, Gangadharaiah and a minor. The investigating officer presented the chargesheet in court on October 27. According to the SP, the victims’ statements in connection with the second case against the seer have also been recorded, and their parents have also done the same.
Police detained the alleged seer and questioned him about the incident. Other girls who made accusations against the Lingayat mutt seer have also given statements to the police, which have been recorded. More than 15 girls are said to have been sexually abused by the seer.
According to the police, Stanley, the founder of the Odanadi NGO, has been contacted for more details in the case.
In addition, the police are looking into claims of drug use inside the mutt and are awaiting medical records.
A previous FIR had been filed by the Karnataka Police in the Nazarabad Police Station in Mysuru in relation to the alleged sexual harassment of the children of employees of the Mutt.
The FIR was filed based on a complaint that was filed with the assistance of an Odanadi organisation and contains up to seven names, including the seer of the Murugha Mutt Shivakumar Swamy and the hostel warden Rashmi. It is likely that the case will be transferred to the Chitradurga rural police station.
