A case of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and certain sections of the IPC has been registered against Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, chief pontiff of the prominent Murugha Mutt in Karnataka, for alleged sexual abuse of two high school girls. The two girls were staying in one of the hostels administered by the mutt.
The pontiff on Monday broke his silence over the issue, claiming it was part of a long drawn conspiracy against him, indicated an inside job and vowed to come out clean in the case.
The chief pontiff of one of the prominent and prestigious Lingayat seminaries in the State addressed the devotees, his followers and media persons, who had gathered at the math premises, amid speculation regarding his whereabouts, alleged travel to an undisclosed place and rumours of subsequent arrest or detention mid-way.
“Many of you feel Murugha math’s pain as yours and I am here for you with courage, there is no situation for any of you to worry. We will all face the situation together with courage, patience and intelligence, and find a solution,” the seer said.
This was not the first time he was facing such a situation as such conspiracies have been going on within the math for the last 15 years, he claimed. “The conspiracies that were going on inside all these days are going on outside now. There will be a logical end to all issues, I need your cooperation in finding that logical end,” he said.
There were some media reports earlier in the day that the seer was on his way to an undisclosed location and that his car was stopped mid way near Bankapura in Haveri district, and was asked to return.