Karnataka’s top Lingayat seer sent to 4-day police custody in sexual assault case
Murugha Mutt’s Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru: Police had requested the bench for five days of custody.
Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of Sri Murugha Mutt, an accused in a child sexual abuse case, was taken into police custody on Friday for four days, until September 5. When the top seer was brought before the district sessions court, police asked for five days in custody.
The influential Lingayat mutt’s chief pontiff was arrested late Thursday night amid a massive uproar over alleged sexual abuse of two schoolgirls.
The Lingayat seer was taken to a district hospital on Friday morning after complaining of chest pain.
Komala, the district sessions court judge, had stated that the pontiff would have to come straight from the hospital to the court and that a decision on his remand would be made only after he is presented before the court.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka chief minister Basavraj Bommai said his government need not respond to allegations of “delayed” arrest of the seer and that the state police has been given full freedom in handling of the case.
“We don’t need to answer any allegations. I have already said that everything will be done according to the law. It’s not appropriate to speak now. We have given a free hand to the police and they’re doing their job.”
