Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the pontiff of Murugharajendra Bruhanmutt, Chitradurga, was released on Thursday after he was granted bail in a POCSO case against him. Karnataka High Court granted conditional bail to the pontiff Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru in connection with the allegation of sexual harassment of minor girls early this month.

 

The seer has been kept under judicial custody since September 2, 2022. He is an influential Lingayat mutt in Karnataka. 


According to ANI, " Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the pontiff of Murugharajendra Bruhanmutt, Chitradurga, was released today after bail was granted to him in a POCSO case against him."

  






 

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Speaking to reporters after being released on bail from the Chitradurga prison, he said: "I don't want to say anything about the allegations against me. Silence suits me best. The advocates will answer all questions."


After his release from prison, he visited seer Jayadeva Gadduge.


His supporters welcomed him in large numbers and queued up before the Virakta Mutt of Davanagere.














M.L. Parashuram, the founder of the Odanadi NGO who pursued the case against the seer, asserted that the seer accused of rape secured bail due to errors by the investigating officers. He emphasized that had the case been investigated by a high-level agency, the seer would not have been granted bail so swiftly. Parashuram expressed concern about the slogans supporting the accused seer, stating that they have instilled fear among the child victims involved in the case, as reported by IANS.


K.V. Stanley, co-founder of Odanadi NGO, stated they would explore legal options to get the bail cancelled, the report said.