Chitradurga: The Chitradurga district court on Friday sent Murugha Mutt seer Dr. Shivamurthy Sharanaru, who was arrested in a POCSO case, to police custody till September 5. The seer was taken into custody by the police late Thursday night and after interrogation at an undisclosed location 40 km away from Chitradurga. Subsequently, he was arrested and taken to hospital before producing him to the district judge, who remanded the accused for 4 days of judicial custody.
The police, then, had not sought police custody of the seer, but they applied for it today after taking into consideration the gravity of the matter. The seer who was kept in jail, complained of chest pain Friday morning and was rushed to the district hospital for treatment.
Dr. Basavaraju, the Superintendent of District Hospital, conducted a health checkup and ascer- tained heart-related problems and said the seer would be taken to Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Bengaluru. The seer has been booked under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for the alleged crime.
It is alleged that the seer allegedly sexually abused two high school girls who were residing in a hostel run by the mutt. Four others also have been booked in the case and have been arrested.
Two others are absconding and the police have launched a manhunt to nab them. Earlier in the day, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai dismissed charges of delay in the state government taking action against the seer who was accused under the POCSO Act and said the police have been given free hand to investigate the case.
