HC directs plea against interim relief for seer to sessions court

The High Court on Wednesday directed the prosecution to approach the sessions court to hear their plea challenging the blanket order, granting interim protection of 30 days from arrest to Ramachandrapura Mutt pontiff Raghaveshwara Bharathi.

Hearing the petition filed by the CID, challenging the interim relief granted to Raghaveshwara Bharathi by the sessions court last week in connection with the case of sexual abuse, Justice K N Phaneendra directed the prosecution to approach the sessions court itself to review the order. 

Anticipatory bail sought

The pontiff has moved the sessions court seeking anticipatory bail after the High Court had refused to quash the case against him on Thursday. 

During the hearing, the CID counsels argued that the interim protection granted was against Supreme Court directions and was not judicious. They contended that the interim protection was granted without mentioning any reason. 

The CID counsels also argued that the protection granted would hamper the process of investigation and the same needs to be quashed. However, the bench observed that the lower court had powers to grant interim protection.