MYSURU/CHITRADURGA: Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the chief pontiff of the Chitradurga-based Murugha mutt, has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, for allegedly sexually abusing two high school girls. The mutt is one of the prominent monasteries in Karnataka which runs over 150 spiritual and educational institutions.
The pontiff has been accused of sexually harassing two minor high school girls who are inmates of one of the hostels run by the mutt. The FIR has also named four others including a junior seer and a hostel warden.
Murughta mutt’s counsel and advisory committee member N B Vishwanath said the sexual harassment charges against the pontiff are baseless and false. He also alleged that the two girls have been brainwashed and forced to give a statement.
‘Pontiffs’ devotees are shocked and upset’
His (pontiff) devotees are shocked and upset. Many people met the pontiff and discussed the next course of action. The pontiff has rejected the charges and is ready to fight the case,” Vishwanath added.
The FIR was lodged on Friday night after Mysuru-based NGO Odanadi Seva Samsthe, which is engaged in the rescue and rehabilitation of sexually exploited women and children, approached the district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) after hearing from the two girls, who are now sheltered with them.
The CWC, which is a quasi-judicial body, recorded the statements of the two girls and lodged a complaint at the Nazarbad police station in Mysuru. Subsequently, an FIR under the Pocso Act 2012 and IPC was filed.
According to the FIR, the girls were sexualy harassed between January 2019 and June 2022. While one victim allegedly underwent harassment for three-and-a-half years, another for one-and-a-half years.
Odanadi’s founder director, Parashuram M L, said the two girls escaped from their hostel to avoid sustained sexual assault and reached Bengaluru. “An auto driver who knew about our work directed them to us. We heard their agony and decided to produce them before the CWC,” he added. After several rounds of counselling, Parashuram said the two girls shared their experiences in the mutt with counsellor Saraswati. The girls also told her that fruits and chocolates laced with some medications were fed to them before they were assaulted.
Mysuru city deputy commissioner of police Pradeep Gunti, said the case has now been transferred to their counterparts in Chitradurga for further investigation since it occurred in Chitradurga. This was after obtaining permission from a competent court in Mysuru.
Defending the pontiff, Vishwanath earlier alleged that the mutt administrative officer, SK Basavarajan, a former JD(S) MLA from Chitradurga, against whom a case was filed in Chitradurga on Saturday, is the man behind the charge. “After taking charge of the mutt, he wanted complete control. But the pontiff set some conditions before giving him the position. This upset him,” he alleged.
A team of advocates met the pontiff and has decided to approach the court for anticipatory bail. “Let the police conduct the probe, and if they find the pontiff guilty, they can arrest him. But the sudden arrest of the seer will hurt the sentiments of lakhs of devotees,” Vishwanath claimed. LB Rajashekar, president of Veerashaiva Association in Chitradurga, said that the seer has done no wrong and will fight back.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect their privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
The pontiff has been accused of sexually harassing two minor high school girls who are inmates of one of the hostels run by the mutt. The FIR has also named four others including a junior seer and a hostel warden.
Murughta mutt’s counsel and advisory committee member N B Vishwanath said the sexual harassment charges against the pontiff are baseless and false. He also alleged that the two girls have been brainwashed and forced to give a statement.
‘Pontiffs’ devotees are shocked and upset’
His (pontiff) devotees are shocked and upset. Many people met the pontiff and discussed the next course of action. The pontiff has rejected the charges and is ready to fight the case,” Vishwanath added.
The FIR was lodged on Friday night after Mysuru-based NGO Odanadi Seva Samsthe, which is engaged in the rescue and rehabilitation of sexually exploited women and children, approached the district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) after hearing from the two girls, who are now sheltered with them.
The CWC, which is a quasi-judicial body, recorded the statements of the two girls and lodged a complaint at the Nazarbad police station in Mysuru. Subsequently, an FIR under the Pocso Act 2012 and IPC was filed.
According to the FIR, the girls were sexualy harassed between January 2019 and June 2022. While one victim allegedly underwent harassment for three-and-a-half years, another for one-and-a-half years.
Odanadi’s founder director, Parashuram M L, said the two girls escaped from their hostel to avoid sustained sexual assault and reached Bengaluru. “An auto driver who knew about our work directed them to us. We heard their agony and decided to produce them before the CWC,” he added. After several rounds of counselling, Parashuram said the two girls shared their experiences in the mutt with counsellor Saraswati. The girls also told her that fruits and chocolates laced with some medications were fed to them before they were assaulted.
Mysuru city deputy commissioner of police Pradeep Gunti, said the case has now been transferred to their counterparts in Chitradurga for further investigation since it occurred in Chitradurga. This was after obtaining permission from a competent court in Mysuru.
Defending the pontiff, Vishwanath earlier alleged that the mutt administrative officer, SK Basavarajan, a former JD(S) MLA from Chitradurga, against whom a case was filed in Chitradurga on Saturday, is the man behind the charge. “After taking charge of the mutt, he wanted complete control. But the pontiff set some conditions before giving him the position. This upset him,” he alleged.
A team of advocates met the pontiff and has decided to approach the court for anticipatory bail. “Let the police conduct the probe, and if they find the pontiff guilty, they can arrest him. But the sudden arrest of the seer will hurt the sentiments of lakhs of devotees,” Vishwanath claimed. LB Rajashekar, president of Veerashaiva Association in Chitradurga, said that the seer has done no wrong and will fight back.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect their privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)