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Muruga Mutt seer approaches Karnataka HC for permission to sign cheques for paying salaries of ashram employees

Shivamurthy Muruga Sharanaru is the head priest of the Murugarajendra Mutt in Karnataka's Chitradurga district, who was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls.

Mirror Now Digital

Updated Sep 29, 2022, 14:03 IST

Shivamurthy Muruga Sharanaru

Photo : IANS

Bengaluru: Shivamurthy Muruga Sharanaru has asked the Karnataka High Court for permission to sign cheques required to pay the salaries of the ashram's staff. Shivamurthy Muruga Sharanaru is the head priest of the Murugarajendra Mutt in Karnataka's Chitradurga district, who was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls.

The Muruga Mutt seer approaches the high court, just days after a special court in Chitradurga rejected his bail request. Shivamurthy had asked for bail on the condition that he signs cheques to release the salaries of the Murugarajendra Mutt employees.

As per reports, the Chitradurga court has also extended Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru's judicial custody till October 10.

Meanwhile, the judicial custody of the second accused has also been extended till October 10 by Second Additional Sessions Judge BK Komala.

The court had previously denied the accused seer's request for consideration of bail based on medical necessity and had also denied him special permission to receive food from the Mutt and worship while imprisoned.

Earlier this month, Karnataka police arrested rape-accused Murugha mutt seer, Shivamurthy. The arrest came six days after an FIR was registered. Shivamurthy was booked by the Nazarbad police under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) act after a complaint was filed by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

Leaders of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community have scheduled a meeting for September 29 to discuss the accused seer's decision to remain in that position despite serious accusations made under the POCSO Act and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The Mutt, one of the wealthiest Lingayat mutts, is run by more than 150 elite educational institutions and has 3,000 branches all over the nation.

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