Karnataka seer sent to 3-day police custody

The district and sessions court in Chitradurga on Friday remanded the head of the Murugha Mutt, Shivamurthy Shivacharya Sharanaru, in police custody for three days. The 64-year-old seer has been held in connection with a case of alleged sexual assault on two minor girls.

The seer, who was arrested on Thursday night, spent some time last night at the district jail, but the authorities shifted him to the district hospital after he complained of chest pain. The doctors advised superior treatment at the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology in Bengaluru, and preparations were underway to airlift him to Bengaluru after the court's permission.

But judge BK Komala called for medical records to see if his condition required shifting to Bengaluru and directed the jail authorities to produce the seer before the court. She ordered police custody after finding the records inadequate to justify his shifting to Bengaluru.


Home minister Araga Jnanendra said investigation into the case will go as per law, with zero interference from the government. Police enjoyed full freedom to conduct investigations, he said in a media statement.