Bengaluru: “The seer is being framed by some influential people who want to malign the image of the centuries-old mutt. M N Bhat, in his earlier statement before the Crime Investigation Department, had not said anything against the seer. The sudden change in his stance indicates that there are some forces with vested interests, who are trying to frame the seer with false accusations, said Krishnaprasad Ammankallu, official spokesperson of Ramachandra Mutt.
A press meet was held on Sunday by the Samaana Manaskara Havyaka Vedike, a group of Havyaka Brahmins where they denied allegations made against Raghaveshwara Bharathi by M N Bhat, a former member of the mutt.
M N Bhat had said that the seer, who had taken a vow of celibacy, made women devotees dance and sing in his presence, which was unbecoming of a seer.
The key witnesses are being replaced with fake witnesses to frame the seer. “There are people in influential positions who are trying to malign the image of the pontiff and the mutt”, said one of the members of Samaana Manaskara Havyaka Vedike at the press meet.
This was also part of an ugly ego war between mushrooming mutts in the region, who want to attain supremacy and exploit the faith of the devotees, he added.
The followers claimed that the seer is innocent and urged the government to step in and stop the negative propaganda against the seer.
