Former Muruga mutt head pontiff, accused of raping minors, acquitted

Sharanaru, who was barred from entering Chitradurga district by the court, arrived from Virakta Mutt in Davangere.

Booked in three cases

In August 2022, two girls, aged 16 and 15, told members of the state Child Welfare Committee that they were sexually assaulted between January 1, 2019, and June 6, 2022. The girls were students of a school run by the mutt and were residents of its hostel.

Later, a case was registered against Sharanaru at a police station in Mysuru, which was subsequently transferred to another police station. The seer, the warden of the hostel and three others were booked in the case.

In October 2022, another complaint was filed by a cook, alleging that the seer had sexually assaulted four girls, including her daughters. He was booked in yet another case in November on charges of revealing information about minors living on the mutt’s premises.

After the first case was registered, the then Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government in Karnataka appointed an administrator to oversee the works of the mutt.

Following the verdict, K V Stanley, Odanadi Seva Samsthe, a NGO that assisted the victims legally said that they would demand government to challenge the judgment in the higher court.

Hours after the judgment, Stanley in Mysuru said, “We did not expect this judgment. In one day they completed 90 children counselling and is it possible. There was a lot of pressure. If the accused are safe guarded, it would send a wrong message to the society. This judgment is reflects the ability of the government. There has been lapses during the police investigation. A lot of evidence were left out. I will speak to the victims, we will get justice some or the other day,” he added.