The top pontiff of the Murugarajendra Mutt within the Chitradurga district of Karnataka, Shivamurthy Muruga Sharanaru, who was arrested on fees of sexual assault of two minor ladies, has approached the Karnataka excessive courtroom for permission to signal cheques for releasing the salaries of staff of the ashram.
The top pontiff of the ashram of the dominant Lingayat neighborhood in Karnataka was arrested on September 1 by the Chitradurga police primarily based on a criticism filed beneath the Safety of Kids towards Sexual Offences Act, 2012 on August 26 by a baby safety officer of the state after two ladies complained of assault.
Sharanaru approached the Karnataka Excessive Court docket after a particular courtroom in Chitradurga rejected the plea on September 23 whereas rejecting his bail plea. One of many situations beneath which Sharanaru had sought bail was to facilitate the signing of cheques to launch the salaries of staff of the Murugarajendra Mutt.
The seer’s advocates have argued that just about 3,000 staff working within the Mutt and its affiliated establishments, together with faculties, schools, and hostels, can be affected if the seer just isn’t allowed to signal the cheques for the discharge of the staff’ September salaries.
It has been argued on behalf of the seer that he’s the signatory to the cheques as the only trustee of the Mutt and that the lives of staff “can be put to problem” if the seer just isn’t launched on bail and allowed to signal the cheques.
The particular courtroom had on September 23 rejected the seer’s plea on the grounds that the Mutt “is established and ruled by Belief Act which itself makes provisions to fulfill such contingencies”. The seer then approached the Karnataka Excessive Court docket on September 24 for re-consideration of the plea.
On Wednesday, the Karnataka Excessive Court docket requested the seer’s advocates to revert on Thursday with particulars of how salaries are disbursed on the Mutt and whether or not a single signature of the seer would suffice. The excessive courtroom was informed by the advocates that the seer is the only signatory.
Officers of the Murugarajendra Mutt are anticipated to convene a gathering on Thursday to resolve whether or not Sharanaru ought to proceed as the pinnacle of the Mutt following his arrest and switch to judicial custody or whether or not modifications ought to be effected.
Whereas Sharanaru, 64, and hostel warden S Rashmi, 26, had been arrested within the POCSO case, a supervisor, and junior pontiff – a juvenile – of the mutt and a lawyer linked to the mutt have been accused of abetment to the crime.