In Karnataka, the chief pontiff of Murugha Mutt, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru was arrested last night following an FIR against him under POCSO Act. Shivamurthy was arrested 6 days after the FIR was lodged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act for sexually assaulting minors.
He has been accused of sexually assaulting two minor high
school girls in a hostel run by his monastery in Chitradurga district. Police said Shivamurthy was taken for a medical examination at the district hospital before arresting him. He was produced before a court late last night, which remanded him to 14-day judicial custody. Subsequently, he was taken to Chitradurga district jail.