Karnataka: POCSO case against Lingayat seer, calls it ‘conspiracy’

Chitradurga: A prominent Linagayat seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, who has been booked under POCSO Act, broke his silence claiming it is a part of inside conspiracies and he would come out clean in the alleged sexual abuse case, and asked the devotees not to worry about him.

"There is no situation for any of you to worry about. We will find a solution by facing it collectively with courage, patience and intelligence. Such a thing has not happened for the first time. Inside conspiracies have been taking place for the last 15 years, and these are now going out of the mutt," he said addressing his followers and a section of the media.

The seer said there is no question of dodging the law of the country, as he is a law-abiding citizen and ready to cooperate with the investigation.

He appealed to the devotees to ignore any kind of rumours or speculations. "I am firm in my thoughts and I am confident. I will come out clean," he said amid the slogans raised by his devotees in his support.

The Karnataka police have registered FIR against five persons, including the hostel warden of the mutt, based on the complaint by an officer of the district child protection unit.

The complainants have alleged that the seer used to sexually abuse the high school girls residing in the hostel. Out of fear of highly powerful people, the complainants approached Odanaadi Seva Samasthe in Mysuru and briefed them about the alleged sexual abuse.

"The girls approached us. They were not in a position to talk, but after several rounds of counselling, they opened up. They told us about the sexual abuse at the Chitradurga mutt. We took them to the police and lodged a complaint," Saraswati, a counsellor at the NGO, said.

The girls also alleged that some medications used to be mixed in chocolate and fruit before assaulting them, she said.

Countering the allegations, Murugha Mutt Advisory Committee member NB Vishwanath rubbished them all by saying it has been done with an ulterior motive of mentally harassing the seer.

This is the first such allegation the seer is facing in his entire life, Vishwanath said and added that the pontiff has been working for the welfare of women and children for past several years.

After several rounds of meeting, the mutt has decided to move the court, seeking anticipatory bail, he said.

"If the police find the seer guilty during police interrogation, they can arrest him. The premature arrest of the seer however will hurt the sentiments of his devotees," he said.

Vishwanath also claimed the mutt administrative officer SK Basavarajan's role in the filing of complaint against the seer.

He alleged that Basavarajan, who is a former MLA, wanted complete control over the mutt.

Meanwhile, Chitradurga police registered a case against Basavarajan and his wife Soubhagya Basavarajan in connection with a sexual harassment complaint by a woman.

In her complaint, the woman accused Basavarajan of visiting her in the hostel in the name of inspection and sexually abuse her.

She alleged that Basavarajan used to touch her private parts and resisted rape attempts by him. "He also threatened to kill me," the victim said. (Inputs from UNI)