Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara.
Credit: DH Photo
Belagavi/Chitradurga/Davangere: Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said that the government would seek legal opinion before arriving at a decision to appeal the acquittal of Murugha Mutt pontiff Shivamurthy Murugha Sharana in a Pocso case by a trial court.
Parameshwara told reporters in Belagavi that the government is yet to receive the order copies. “We shall obtain a legal opinion, and if it is in favour of appealing against the verdict, we shall file an appeal. As of now, we cannot comment,” he said.
No evidence of sexual assault: Seer’s counsel
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons after the verdict in Chitradurga, the seer’s counsel K B K Swamy said the mutt’s former administrative officer and former MLA S K Basavarajan and his family members had conspired against the seer for property.
The matter was brought to the notice of the court that the girls were trained with the help of an NGO in Mysuru, and a complaint was filed. The seer is acquitted of all charges, as there was no evidence for most of the charges, he added.
He also pointed out that the investigation has not found an answer to the question of where the girls were after the sexual assault took place until the complaint was filed.
The CCTV camera footage has not been found for the allegation that the seer was taking the girls to a private room. The court has considered these points as important, he claimed.
Seer wants to maintain silence
Seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharana, who arrived in Davangere, said, “I have to maintain silence for a few more days. There is little time to speak. I will officially call a press conference and share information.”
He responded to all the questions of the reporters with “no comments.”
Before the seer arrived, the devotees raised slogans in his favour.