Lingayat mutt sex scandal: Charges against rape accused seer stand, says K'taka Police
Darpan News Desk IANS, 07 Nov, 2022 11:14 AM
Chitradurga (Karnataka), Nov 7 (IANS) In a major development, Karnataka Police on Monday stated that the charges against rape accused, jailed Lingayat seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru have been held to stand during the course of investigation.
Superintendent of Police, Chitradurga, K. Parashurama said that along with the prime accused seer, the charges against accused number two, women's hostel warden Rashmi and accused number four Paramashivaiah are also valid.
However, the police are gathering evidence against accused number two, a minor, and accused number five Gangadharaiah, he added.
The SP said that the charge sheet was submitted to the court on Octover 27 by the investigating officer. The statements by the victims in connection with the second case have also been recorded. The parents of the victims had also recorded their statements. The accused seer was taken into police custody and questioned regarding the case, he saidd.
Based on the statements by the victims, the police have recorded statements of other girls. There is an allegation of more than 15 girls abused by the seer. The police had sought more information in this direction from Odanadi NGO founder Stanley, SP Parashurama said.
The police have requested him to share details and assured him of a joint investigation.
On the allegation of rape and murder of a minor girl who resisted abuse in the mutt by the accused seer, the SP said that the victims of first case have stated that one girl was raped and murdered.
The investigations so far have shown that the girl died after falling from the train in Hindupur Railway police station limits in Andhra Pradesh. The case is being closed as an accidental death. The police are also investigating the allegations of use of drugs in the mutt, and are awaiting medical reports, Parashurama said.
The medical tests have proved that the accused seer is capable of committing sexual abuse. The first Pocso and SC/ST Atrocity case was lodged against the seer on August 26. The second case under similar provisions was filed on October 13. Following high drama the accused seer was arrested on September 1.
Meanwhile, as accused seer is refusing to step down as the head of Chitradurga mutt, a delegation had met Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and discussed the appointment of new pontiff. Sources within mutt say that the accused seer is in full control of the mutt and taking decisions.
According to a source with the Ministry, the diplomats see it as a question of credibility and said that such tall claims should be avoided as it hurts the credibility of the country and the government too. The source said that it has left the diplomats embarrassed.
During the intervening night of September 13 and 14, on a specific intelligence input, the ICG strategically deployed two fast interceptor class of ships, C-408 and C-454 for patrolling in areas close to the IMBL. During midnight, the Pakistani boat was observed moving suspiciously in Indian waters, 5 nm inside notional IMBL and 40 nm from Jakhau.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Wednesday that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is raking up the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan cases purely to divert people's attention from its 'scandals'. The SAD chief, who was questioned by the SIT regarding the Kotkapura firing case which occurred in 2015, said all police actions are part of a laid down procedure.
Earlier in the day amid allegations of the BJP attempting to bring down the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, the AAP said it has filed a formal complaint, along with all proof, with Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav for a fair probe into threats and money offers to its legislators.
The G20 Leaders' Summit at the level of Heads of State Government is scheduled to be held on September 9-10, 2023 in New Delhi, said the Ministry statement. The G20 is an inter-governmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies.
The arrested person has been identified as Anmoldeep Soni, a resident of Harike Pattan in Tarn Taran. The police have also recovered 103 gm heroin from his possession. Last week the police had arrested three accomplices of Landa and Rinda, including Nachhatar Singh, alias Moti, who is the prime accused in the case of planting an improvised explosive device (IED) in Kurukshetra in Haryana.
