Chitradurga: A lower court in Karnataka on Tuesday granted bail to Shivamurthy Sharana, the seer of Murugha Mutt, following the completion of witness interrogations in a sexual harassment case lodged against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Sharana was arrested in September 2022 and had been imprisoned in Chitradurga district prison since then.
The seer’s arrest stemmed from complaints of sexual misconduct lodged by girls from a Mutt-run institution, with assistance from the Mysuru-based NGO, Odanadi.
After being granted bail, Sharana expressed optimism about the legal proceedings, stating, “I will only say that because of the grace of God, I’m out of jail today. The legal fight is on, and I’m hopeful that the truth will win.”
While the Karnataka High Court initially granted him bail in November 2023, the Supreme Court later ruled that he could only be released after the interrogation of 13 witnesses.
The 42nd Additional District and Sessions Court of Chitradurga, which granted bail to Sharana, prohibited him from entering the Chitradurga district. The seer will reside in a Mutt unit in Davangere as he continues to contest the charges legally.
Basavaprabhu Swami, the interim chief of Murugha Mutt, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating, “We are happy that he has finally been released from prison.”
Sharana’s case has drawn considerable attention, with multiple FIRs filed against him.
The first FIR, lodged on August 26, 2022, includes charges under the POCSO Act, while subsequent complaints involved allegations from a Mutt cook, claiming the seer sexually assaulted her daughters and other minors at the Math premises.
