K'taka sex scandal case: Accused Lingayat seer finally arrested
Darpan News Desk IANS, 01 Sep, 2022 11:44 AM
Chitradurga (Karnataka), Sep 1 (IANS) Lingayat seer Dr Murugha Shivamurthy Sharanaru, accused of raping minor girls, was finally taken into custody by the Karnataka Police on Thursday night - six days after the FIR against him was lodged.
Police sources said the accused seer will be produced before a court on Friday.
Chitradurga Rural police station inspector Balachandra took Sharanaru into custody from the premises of the mutt and brought him to the DSP's office. The seer will also undergo medical tests.
However, mutt sources claimed that the seer had surrendered himself to the police.
Sharanaru is facing charges under the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, after being accused of brutal sexual assault on minor girls. He is alleged to have been aided by a woman warden, junior pontiff and other staff in the commission of the crimes.
Junior pontiff Basavaditya, the Mutt's Secretary Paramashivaiah, and advocate Gangadharaiah, who are also accused in the case, are absconding.
On receiving information about the incident, SP City Dinesh Kumar Singh, along with police force, reached the spot. The injured youths were sent to the hospital for treatment and the matter is being investigated.
The Chief Minister said the government is fully sensitive towards checking cross-border infiltration in Punjab. He said Punjab Police is constantly in touch with the Border Security Force (BSF) and other agencies for this purpose.
While briefing the officers, the DGP said the topmost priority of the government, as directed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is to further strengthen the fight against drugs to make Punjab a drug-free state, besides eliminating the gangster culture, maintaining law and order, and detection of crime.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced Rs 5 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased, whereas Rs 15,000 as immediate relief for the injured. He said free treatment would be provided to the injured.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday carried out his first Cabinet expansion by inducting five legislators, including second-time MLA Aman Arora, into his council of ministers. The expansion came in less than four months of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sweeping to victory in the Assembly elections by winning 92 seats of the 117 seats.
The police have so far managed to nab four of the accused, including one woman, who have been identified as Gurjant Singh (31), Navjot Singh (30), Satpal Singh (28) and Gurpreet Kaur (30).
