Karnataka, September 02, 2022 (PPI-OT):Following widespread protests, the police have arrested the top Hindu religious leader of Karnataka’s politically powerful Lingayat community in Chitradurga district in connection with sexual abuse allegations levelled against him by two minor girls.
The arrest came amid protests especially by Dalit community over police inaction for close to a week since a sexual assault case was registered against Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the head seer of the Murugha Math, one of the key Lingayat seminaries in Chitradurga, with a group of advocates writing to the high court stating the investigation is not being carried out in an unbiased, free and fair manner.
The head seer has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly sexually exploiting two girls studying in schools being operated by the Murugha Math and living in its hostel. The girls recorded their statement before a judicial magistrate on Monday. One of the girls belongs to the Dalit community. The case was filed after the girls approached a non-governmental organisation in Mysuru. They said that they were abused for years.
“Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, accused of sexually assaulting minors, arrested,” Alok Kumar, additional director general of police (ADGP), law and order, Karnataka, said. “The due procedure will be followed. Medical tests and investigation will be done as per the procedure.”
The seer was taken into custody from the Math, Kumar said, adding that he will be produced before the court on Friday (today). “We will seek his police custody,” the officer said. Over police inaction in the case, a group of advocates wrote a letter to the registrar general of the high court. “He (the pontiff) has not even been summoned for investigation or his medical examination conducted,” the letter said. “These lacunae in the investigation show that there is already prejudice caused on part of the investigation.”
For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org
The post After furore, Karnataka police arrest Hindu religious leader in sexual assault case appeared first on Official News Pakistan.