Karnataka’s top monk gave narcotics to minor girls and misbehaved with them: Police

Bangalore:

Shocking details have emerged from Karnataka’s Chitradurga district, where the police have filed a chargesheet against the most powerful Lingayat seer, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of Murugha Math, who is accused of sexually abusing minor girls.

Senior police officials confirmed to NDTV that the chargesheet, based on the statements of the victims, mentioned how the minor girls living in the Murugha Math hostel were drugged, and abused by the Lingayat seer. As the matter continues to deepen, the investigating officers have requested through the media that the victims can come forward and file a complaint against the seer.

A prominent face of the Lingayat community, Shivamurthy Sharanaru is the same seer who initiated Rahul Gandhi into the Lingayat sect in August.

Shivamurthy Sharanaru has been accused of sexually assaulting and abusing two minor girls who have been staying in the girls’ hostel on the premises of Murugha Math for over three years.

On August 26, two minor girls who ran away from Murugha Math reached Odanadi, a Mysuru-based NGO, seeking help. An FIR was lodged against the Lingayat sadhu at the Mysore police station with the help of the Child Welfare Committee.

Though the case was transferred to Chitradurga police station, the accused was arrested on September 1 after almost five days.

From the BJP to the Congress, many top leaders came out in support of the saint as it is a vote bank that no one wants to risk before the state goes to polls next year.

Police have also framed charges against hostel warden Rashmi and Paramshivaiya, another accused in the case.

However, the police is collecting evidence against two more accused Gangadharaiah and a minor. The investigating officer had filed the charge sheet in the court on October 27.