Bengaluru: Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, a rape suspect and Lingayat mutt seer, was released from prison on Thursday after serving a 14-month sentence. He stated that he would prefer not to discuss the subject at this time.
After being released from Chitradurga prison on bail, he spoke with reporters and stated, “I don’t want to say anything about the allegations against me.” I’m best in silence. All inquiries will be addressed by the advocates.”
Following his jail release, he went to see seer Jayadeva Gadduge.
His supporters welcomed him in large numbers and queued up before the Virakta Mutt of Davanagere.
Meanwhile, Odanadi NGO founder M.L. Parashuram, who pursued the case against the seer, stated that the rape accused seer got bail due to the mistakes of the investigating officers.
“Had the case been probed by a high-level investigating agency, he would not have been granted bail so early. The slogans raised in favor of the accused seer have created fear among the victims, who are children,” he said.
Co-founder of Odanadi NGO K.V. Stanley said they will look at legal possibilities to have the bail revoked.
Since the accused seer’s release, the minor victims have been living in constant fear. We’re attempting to give them courage and strength,” he remarked.
After serving 14 months in prison, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of the legendary Murugha Mutt in Chitradurga was freed on Thursday.
He was detained last year on suspicion of raping young girls who were lodgers at the Murugha Mutt-run hostel.
The powerful Lingayat seer was incarcerated in the Chitradurga district prison for fourteen months.
The Karnataka High Court, on November 8, granted conditional bail to him.
The seer is facing charges under the POCSO Act, IPC sections, Juvenile Justice Act, Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act etc.
He was arrested after high drama on September 1, 2022, and has been in jail since then.
The Karnataka High Court granted conditional bail to the rape accused.
The High Court Bench, headed by Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar, restrained the accused seer from entering the premises of the mutt and also directed him to surrender his passport to the court.
He was also asked to provide two sureties.
