Bengaluru: The supporters of Raghaveshwara Bharati pontiff of Ramachandrapura Mutt staged a protest at Town Hall on Sunday against the rape case registered by his seer’s devotee.
Dharmaranga Kalachintana Sadbhavana Okkoota and various other organisations protesting in the city alleged that the sexual harassment case was part of a conspiracy against the mutt and the seer.
Ganapathi Hegde, a protester, said vested interests were involved in the case. Shyam Bhatt, another protester, alleged that the National Commission for Women, whose representatives visited the state thrice regarding the case, did not even take the statement of the seer. “It is a one-sided decision,” he alleged, adding that when they went to meet the NCW representatives, they were chided and sent away.
Shivaram Hegde, who was leading the protest, said more such agitations will be staged across the city and the state in the coming days. “More than 10,000 people will join us in this,” he said. Last year, Premalatha had lodged a complaint against Raghaveshwara Bharati accusing him of sexually assaulting her.