According to news agency ANI and Alok Kumar, ADGP, Law and Order Karnataka, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the top pontiff of the Sri Murugha Mutt who has been accused of sexually abusing youngsters, was detained on September 1, 2022.
Following the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO), the seer has been detained for allegedly abusing two high school girls.
“A judge will see the top pontiff of Sri Murugha Mutt, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, who was detained on sexual assault charges against youngsters. According to protocol, “ANI cited Alok Kumar would conduct medical tests and investigations.
Following the POCSO Act and specific provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Mysuru municipal police filed an FIR against the seer for the alleged sexual assault last week.
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In addition, a District Child Protection Unit officer’s report led to the filing an FIR against five individuals, including the warden of the monastery’s dormitory.
It is claimed that between January 2019 and June 2022, two girls, ages 15 and 16, who attended a school operated by the math and lived in a dormitory maintained by the monastery, were sexually molested.
In Mysuru, two girls went to a non-governmental organization and reported the alleged abuse; the organization then went to the authorities, and the police recorded the case. As Chitradurga was the alleged crime scene, the case was later moved there.
As one of the two victims was a member of the SC community, the pope, who had sought anticipatory bail in a Karnataka court on Monday, has also been charged with violating the Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Cases have been filed against the seer under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), in addition to the POCSO and the Prevention of Atrocities Act.
The two victims were brought in by the Chitradurga police earlier this week so that their testimonies could be recorded following Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
