Murugha Mutt seer's bail plea hearing deferred to September 2

A Karnataka district court on Thursday deferred the hearing of anticipatory bail filed by Murugha Mutt Pontiff Shivamurthy Murugha Sharana, an accused in a sexual abuse case, to September 2.

Advocate K N Vishwanataiah had filed the bail petition on August 29 on behalf of the seer.

The Judge B K Komala started hearing of the bail petition at 11:00 am and the two girls, said to be victims in the case, were produced before the court. The judge asked advocates of other cases to go out of the court hall. High Court advocate Srinivas was present on behalf of the victims. He sought one day time to file objections to the bail petition. Admitting it, the bail hearing was put off to September 2.

Also Read — Seers of various mutts back Murugha Sharana; public oppose

Chitradurga SP Parashuram has been questioned by the National Commission for Protection of Children's Rights (NCPCR) and the State Commission for Children regarding action initiated against Lingayat seer Shivamurthy Muruthy Murugha Sharanaru of the Murugha Mutt in Karnataka's Chitradurga.

NCPCR has sought answers to 9 questions from the SP over the sexual assault case and asked him to submit report within seven days. The NCPCR and State Commission for Children have taken up the suo motu case in this connection.

The police in Chitradurga had earlier this week produced the two victims for recording their statements under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Apart from the seer, a total of five people, including the warden of the monastery's hostel, are accused in the case. It is alleged that the two girls, aged 15 and 16, studying in a school run by the math and residing in a hostel, also run by the monastery, were sexually abused between January 2019 and June 2022.

Apart from the POCSO and the Prevention of Atrocities Act, cases have also been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code against the seer.

(With inputs from agency.)