Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the chief pontiff of Murugha Math, who was arrested in a POCSO case on Thursday late at night and remanded in judicial custody, was shifted to the district hospital for treatment on Friday morning after he complained of chest pain.
According to police sources, the seer experienced uneasiness on Friday morning and the prison staff immediately rushed him to district hospital in Chitradurga where various tests are being conducted as per doctors' advice.
Immediately after the arrest on Thursday late night, the police had taken him for medical examination before producing him before the judge, who remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days.
Speaking to press persons after handing over the custody of the seer to the prison authorities during the wee hours of Friday, Superintendent of Police K. Parashuram said that they planned to move the court seeking police custody of the seer for questioning.
He clarified that there was no delay in the arrest of the seer and but it took time as they had to collect supportive evidence for the arrest of the main accused.
He said already the warden of the hostel run by the Mutt had been taken into custody for questioning and she had been lodged in the "Santvana Kendra". Notices would also be issued to the three others accused in the case asking them to appear for questioning and steps would be taken to trace them, he said. It may be recalled that the warden has filed a complaint against Mr. Basavarajan, the administrator of the mutt (who has now been dismissed), and his wife alleging sexual harassment and kidnap of girls. The couple was granted bail on Thursday.
Mr. Parashuram clarified that the seer was taken to Challakere earlier after his arrest fearing law and problems and that any decision on shifting the seer to any other prison would be taken by the jail authorities, he said.
