Chitradurga: The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has recommended the registration of an FIR under the Juvenile Justice Act against the uncle of a victim who had earlier filed a POCSO case against Shivamurthy Sharan of Muruga Math for the mental and physical abuse of the girl.
With the assistance of the ‘Odanadi’ service organization in Mysore, the victim appeared before the Child Protection Officer and received detailed counseling. After hearing the victim’s plea, the CWC directed the Child Protection Officer to file a complaint under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act at the Women’s Police Station.
The girl, who was under the care of her uncle, had left home on May 22 due to her father’s illness. A complaint regarding her disappearance was lodged at the Mahila Police Station on May 24. The girl returned to the Odanadi Seva Institute in Mysore and was brought to Chitradurga on Tuesday by Stanley, the institute’s director. Allegations have emerged of attempts to influence the victim’s testimony in the POCSO case.
The girl had left home and sought refuge at the Odanadi organization. She was presented before the Child Welfare Committee, where she detailed her uncle’s harassment. It has been claimed that there was a concerted effort to derail the POCSO case, including threats and attempts to bribe her with money and gold to withdraw her testimony.
“There has been a systematic attempt to divert the POCSO case. The victim was threatened and offered money and gold to withdraw from the case. This matter requires a thorough investigation,” insisted Stanley, the director of the Odanadi   organization.
