Murugha Mutt head arrested six days after case being booked
The Hindu
He was taken into custody from the mutt in Chitradurga amidst tight security
The Chitradurga police late on Thursday night arrested the head of Brihan Mutt in Chitradurga, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment of two minor girls who were in the hostel run by the mutt.
The development came six days after he was booked under provisions of the POCSO Act and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The police officials entered the mutt premises after 10 p.m. and took the seer into custody amidst tight security.
The arrest came hours after the hearing on anticipatory bail plea of Murugha Sharanaru was adjourned till Friday, allowing a day’s time for the prosecution and victims’ counsels to submit their objections.
Pressure had been mounting on the police for his arrest as activists and several organisations had started questioning the delay in arresting the seer, who heads a prominent Lingayat mutt. Several progressive and Dalit organisations have organised a rally in Bengaluru on Friday with this demand.
Counsel for Murugha Sharanaru had moved the anticipatory bail application on August 29 before Second Additional District and Sessions Court. However, as judge B.K. Komala was on leave, First Additional District and Sessions judge Kalkani had admitted the plea and had posted the matter for hearing on Thursday.
The two minor girls, victims of alleged sexual harassment, and their parents appeared before the court. Advocates of District Legal Service Authority and also High Court advocate Srinivas appeared before the court on behalf of the minor girls. The judge sought the opinion of the girls and their fathers and subsequently considered the application moved by Mr. Srinivas.
Subramani, a farmer from Anekal Taluk says he has been in a difficult situation lately. On his farmland adjacent to Heelalige Lake, he has been growing crops like sapota, broccoli and coconuts for years. The quality of the water from the borewells has been poor, but now on top of that a new problem has left him befuddled. Every time it rains, his land gets flooded resulting in the destruction of crops, he says.