Karnataka: Murugha seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru subjected to medical tests in Chitradurga

CHITRADURGA/ SHIVAMOGGA: Police interrogated Sri Murugha Mutt's chief pontiff Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the prime accused in the sexual harassment case filed by two minor girls, at the DSP's office here on Saturday.
After taking the seer into police custody on Friday evening, police took him to the district hospital for medical check-up and brought him to the DSP's office, and interrogated him till midnight, after which he slept there itself. A team, led by the DSP and investigation officer Anil Kumar, resumed interrogation on Saturday morning.
They took him to the hospital in the afternoon for medical tests. Sources said he was not cooperating for interrogation - his replies were mostly 'yes', 'no' and 'don't know'. When he was brought back to the DSP's office, the officials offered him rice-and-sambar lunch.
Meanwhile, Chitradurga district court has directed the mutt's advocate not to file bail application till Monday. Hearing the bail application filed by the advocate, the court said the seer, having been arrested on charges of sexual harassment, is under police custody till Monday.
In another development, retired judge Justice S B Vastradmath has assumed charge as the mutt's administrator. The mutt's governing council had appointed Vastradmath after sacking S K Basavarajan and the seer issued related orders. However, Vastradmath took charge after the arrest of the seer.
Meanwhile in Shivamogga, home minister Araga Jnanendra said law and order situation in Chitradurga is normal. "Seven KSRP battalions have been deployed, and senior IPS officers are monitoring the situation," he said, adding the government will not interfere in the investigation.