Murugha Mutt pontiff sent to judicial custody till September 14

National

The Chitradurga sessions court on Monday ordered Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the top pontiff of Sri Murugha Mutt, to be held in judicial prison till September 14.

Sharanaru was arrested and transported to the Chitradurga district prison. After his four-day police detention ended today, the seer appeared in court earlier in the day.

This comes after the police performed a spot check at the Murugha mutt on Sunday.

Previously, on Saturday, the Chitradurga District Court postponed the bail motion seeking anticipatory relief for Murugha Mutt seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, who is accused of sexual assault.

The anticipatory bail application for all four accused was heard in court, and the judge directed the state public prosecutor to file an objection to the bail motion on Monday.

According to a source, the seer has asked for medical bail. The seer is now being questioned by authorities at the DSP Office in Chitradurga.

Earlier on Friday, the district sessions court ordered the arrest of Murugha Mutt’s head pontiff, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, for four days. He will be detained by police until September 5. According to reports, the police had asked the court for 5 days in jail.

After complaining of chest trouble, the seer was transported to a district hospital. He was later brought before the district sessions court.

Sharanaru was detained earlier on Thursday after allegedly sexually assaulting two juvenile girls.

Speaking to media persons, Chitradurga SP Parashurama K had said, “We arrested him (Chief of Sri Murugha Mutt) in the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) case. The second accused is being questioned. She is in our custody. There is no political pressure on us. After the medical checkup, we will present the seer before the magistrate.”

Earlier, on August 30, the District Sessions Court in Chitradurga postponed the top pontiff of the Murugha Mutt’s anticipatory bail appeal till September 1.

An FIR has been filed under the POCSO Act against the pontiff of the famous Muruga Mutt in Chitradurga after two teenage girls accused him of sexual harassment.

The FIR was filed against Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of Chitradurga’s Murugha Mutt. The girls were molested for nearly two years, according to the FIR.