Case filed six days ago…
Shivamurthy Sharanaru, a religious leader of Karnataka's politically powerful Lingayat community, was arrested yesterday after massive pressure from the civil society.
As per the information, Two minor girls have accused him of rape and a case was filed 6 days ago.
Further the information stated, He has been named in a case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and under the law protecting Scheduled Castes and Tribes, as one of the survivors belongs to the Dalit community.
The arrest took place around 10.15 pm after daylong protests by the civil society and various organisations across Karnataka's Chitradurga and Mysuru districts. He was then presented before the magistrate court which sent him to 14-day judicial custody.
He has been moved to the Deputy Superintendent's office in Challakere, in Chitradurga. It is not known yet whether he will be produced before a court tonight.
According to the statement given by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's predecessor, former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had publicly backed him, saying the seer has been "falsely implicated".
As per the statement hive by Advocate DC, "Even if it is delayed, justice has been given to the girls," said advocate Srinivas DC, who is representing them.
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