Karnataka seer remanded in custody, then cops take him to hospital

CHITRADURGA/BENGALURU: The chief pontiff of Murugha Mutt in Karnataka's Chitradurga, Shivamurthy Swami, accused of sexually assaulting two schoolgirls, was Friday remanded in police custody till September 5 amid high drama. He was initially sent to 14-day judicial custody and lodged in Chitradurga prison, where he developed health complications.
The seer was then shifted to Chitradurga district hospital, where a cardiologist suggested he be moved to Bengaluru. Police sought permission from Chitradurga second additional district and sessions court, which refused and pulled up cops for shifting him without its nod.
Court junks pontiff's 'virtual hearing' plea
Objecting to the preparations being made to airlift the chief pontiff of Murugha Mutt in Karnataka's Chitradurga, Shivamurthy Swami, to Bengaluru, judge BK Komala of Chitradurga second additional district and sessions court asked police to produce him before the court immediately. The pontiff was then produced before the court in a wheelchair in the afternoon. When the judge asked him to stand in the witness box, the pontiff became emotional and broke down. The prosecution suggested that the accused can be presented through video conference "as he is unwell", but this was turned down by the court. Judge Komala gave a clear direction that the pontiff should not be taken anywhere during police custody, ruling out any possibility of shifting him to the Bengaluru hospital. The police were directed to present the accused seer in the court at 11am on September 5.
When the pontiff's advocate appealed to the judge to permit them to provide Murugha Mutt's food to Shivamurthy Swami, the judge asked the advocate to submit a memo in this regard. The court later remanded him in police custody for four days.
The accused seer was arrested after days of inaction by the police and silence from the government and the opposition parties in the state even as the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti carried out huge protests and the minor girls remained steadfast in their complaints. He has been booked under the Pocso Act and the SC/ST Act for allegedly sexually abusing the two minors, studying in a school and staying in a hostel run by the mutt. One of the survivors is from the Scheduled Caste community.
Facing flak over the delay in the arrest of the pontiff, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai and home minister Araga Jnanendra said police have been given a free hand to probe the case as per law. "There is no need to respond to this criticism. I've said everything will happen in accordance with law. It is not right to comment on the case now," Bommai said.
Murugha Mutt girls' hostel warden Rashmi was also produced before the judge on Friday. The court sent her to 14-day judicial custody. The other three accused are said to be absconding.
When the allegations against the pontiff surfaced, many senior leaders rushed to his defence, including former CM and Lingayat strongman BS Yediyurappa, who gave a clean chit to the seer even before investigations could start.