Chitradurga(Karnataka): Before sending Murugha Mutt seer Shivamurthy Sharanaru to police custody till September 5, a Karnataka District Sessions Court last evening questioned the police for releasing him from prison within hours of his arrest on an excuse of medical examinations.
The seer was taken to the hospital after he complained of chest pain on Friday when he was being kept in a jail.
Murugha Sree was taken into custody by the police late Thursday night and whisked away to an undisclosed location for interrogation.
After the interrogation, the seer was arrested and was taken to the district hospital for a medical test. He was later produced before District Sessions Court Judge BK Komal who sent him to 14 days judicial custody.
The next morning, however the police filed an application before the court seeking police custody of the seer, considering the gravity of the case, which was granted by Judge Komal.
Taking serious note of the seer being shifted to the district hospital and plans of shifting him to Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Bengaluru, the judge ordered for keeping the seer in police custody than in any of the hospitals.
The Murugha Mutt pontiff was arrested and charged with violating the POCSO act.
He allegedly used to call minor girls to his room and sexually abuse them under the guise of assisting their families.