Representative image
BENGALURU: A local court in Chitradurga on Wednesday acquitted Murugha Mutt seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru and two others in a Pocso case registered in Aug 2022. The seer, however, faces another Pocso case filed on Oct 13, 2022, in which Karnataka HC has stayed the investigation.Two girls from a hostel run by the mutt had alleged in Aug 2022 that the seer had raped them. Five persons – including a minor boy – were named as accused. The seer was arrested on Sept 1.The court also acquitted hostel warden Rashmi and hostel manager Parame Shivaiah. Reading his one-line order, district and sessions judge Gangadharappa Channabasappa Hadapad announced, “All acquitted.”In Davanagere, the seer declined to comment. The seer’s counsel said: “We have to see the order copy to get more clarity on the grounds of acquittal and other details. We will address the media in a day or two,” he said. The special public prosecutor said the state will appeal the verdict in HC.
