Bengaluru, August 29: Shivamurthy Sharanaru of Murugha Mutt in Chitradurga has been booked under various sections of IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) on Saturday after two high school girls residing in a hostel run by the mutt reported sexual abuse. The case has been lodged against the seer and four others.

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said the investigation is on in a case involving the chief seer of a prominent mutt based in Chitradurga, who has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the truth will come out from the probe. He, however, declined to comment further stating the probe is underway. Murugha Mutt Seer Sexual Abuse Case: Truth Will Come Out After Probe, Says Karnataka CM BS Bommai.

"When there is an important case. A case has been booked under POCSO Act and there is also a kidnap case in Chitradurga. Police have registered both the cases and the investigation is on. In such a situation, making comments or interpreting the case is not good for investigation," Bommai responded to a question by a media person.

Meanwhile, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa backed Shivamurthy Sharanaru claiming that the charges are false. "It is a false charge. There is no truth in it and after the completion of the investigation, he will come out clean," Yediyurappa was quoted as saying. Murugha Mutt Seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru Arrested For Sexually Assaulting Minors.

Former CM of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy said on Saturday that the allegations and the case against the mutt seer does not surprise him. "This does not surprise me," ANI reported quoting Kumaraswamy as saying. "There were several discussions about this 5-6 months ago. This issue should have been taken care of at the initial stage. It should not affect the religious sphere otherwise," Kumaraswamy added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2022 03:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).