Rape-accused Lingayat seer detained by police in Karnataka

Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, a prominent Lingayat mutt seer, was detained on Monday after he was booked for sexually assaulting minors in Karnataka.

The seer, who is the chief pontiff of the prominent Murugha mutt in Karnataka’s Chitradurga, was detained from Haveri district. He is accused of sexually assaulting girl students at the institution run by the mutt.

The Mysuru city police have registered an FIR against Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru after a complaint was filed on behalf of two minors. He has been booked under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The two girls studying at the school run by the mutt reached out to ‘Odanadi Seva Samsthe’, an NGO in Mysuru working for the rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and empowerment of trafficked and sexually exploited women and children. After they narrated their ordeal, it was brought to the attention of the district children’s welfare committee.

Apart from the seer, the FIR has also been registered against four others, including the warden of the institution.

According to the complaint, the girls, aged 15 and 16, who were staying at the hostel under the Murugha Mutt, were sexually abused for over three-and-a-half-years.

“This is not a problem of just these two girls. The seer has been harassing several other girl students studying at the institution,” Stanley, head of the NGO, Odanadi Seva Samsthe, claimed.

“This has been going on for many years. But it came to our notice that the children had not disclosed the issue due to fear. We will not bow down to any pressure or threat. It is the duty of entire society to protect the rights of children. We are committed to this,” he added.

WHAT DID KARNATAKA GOVT SAY?

On Sunday, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the police are probing the incident thoroughly and the truth would be out after the investigation is complete.

“Pocso and kidnap case has been registered in Chitradurga. The police are investigating it. When the probe is going on, it’s not right to discuss it. The police will investigate it thoroughly and the truth will be out.”

BJP’s KS Eshwarappa said he was saddened by the allegations, adding he would pray that the news is false.

“Chitradurga’s Murugha Mutt is famous in the state. I’m saddened by the news. The news is disgusting. I will pray that the news is false. The issue is being investigated. Can say something after the investigation is complete. It’s not possible to speculate before this. We have to accept whatever comes out of the investigation.”

COUNTER COMPLAINT AGAINST EX-MLA

In a counter complaint, a rape and kidnapping case has been registered against former MLA and Muruga Mutt former administrator SK Basavarajan. The case was registered by the warden of Muruga Mutt at Chitradurga rural police station under IPC Sec 354(A),504,506,363, & u/s 120(B).

The warden alleged that the two minors from the Muruga Mutt hostel were kidnapped on pretext of taking a gate pass. Subsequently, they were found at Cottonpet Police Station in Bengaluru.

In her complaint, Basavarajan has been accused of sexually abusing the children and the warden from the day when he took over as administrator of the Muruga Mutt.

Parashuram, superintendent of police of Chitradurga, said, “Chitradurga’s Murugha Mutt girls hostel warden had registered a police complaint stating that on 27/7/2022 two minor girls had taken gate pass and left the hostel. On the same day they were seen at Bengaluru cottonpet police station. They were in the illegal detention of former hostel administrator SK Basavarajan and his wife Sowbhagaya Basavarajan. Warden also alleged that Basavarajan also sexually assaulted the warden during his stint. A case has been registered at Chitradurga Rural police station and investigating further.