Advocates seek probe into Murugha math seer's case under HC supervision
Bengaluru, Sep 1: A group of advocates has written to the Registrar General of the Karnataka High Court claiming that the investigation against Shivamurhty Murugha swamy of the Murugha Mutt in Chitradurga, who is facing charges of sexual abuse on minor girls, "is not being carried out in an unbiased, free and fair manner."
They have called for immediate intervention of the High Court in monitoring the ongoing inquiry of the case in the interest of justice, so as to ensure fair and free investigation.
The police had recently registered a case against the seer and four others under Protection of Children From Sexual Act (POCSO), Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and sections Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Advocates Siddharth Bhupathi, Shreeram T Nayak, Ganesh Prasad B S, Ganesh V and Ponnanna K A in their petition said, "The accused herein being an influential person not even being summoned by the investigating officer, let alone being arrested is utter shocking."
Alleging that the MLA of Chitradurga, Thippareddy has been visiting the seer regularly and has been extending his "hand of support" in favour of the accused, it said Home Minister Araga Jnanendra is issuing a press statement that an employee of the math was conspiring against the Swamiji.
"(This) clearly causes prejudice on the investigating authority in carrying out the investigation in a fair and free manner," the letter said.
Further pointing out that the swamiji held a press briefing claiming innocence, it said, since the seer has a large following across Karnataka, his statements would cause prejudice.
"He has not even been summoned for investigation or his medical examination conducted. These lacunas in the investigation show that there is already prejudice caused on part of the investigation," the letter added.
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After fake ID crackdown, IRCTC daily new accounts down to 5000 from one lakh: Railways
New Delhi (PTI): With a new, stringent system to establish user identity, the number of new user IDs being added daily on the IRCTC website has declined to about 5,000 from nearly one lakh, officials said on Saturday.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw noted that the crackdown by Indian Railways on train ticket booking through fake identities is yielding positive results, according to a press note.
Before the latest reforms, this number had touched nearly one lakh new user IDs per day, it said.
"Following the introduction of a stringent system to establish user identity and detect fake IDs, about 5,000 new user IDs are now being added daily on the IRCTC website," the note said.
The officials stated that these steps have already helped Indian Railways deactivate 3.03 crore fake accounts.
"Another 2.7 crore user IDs have either been temporarily suspended or identified for suspension based on the suspicious activities they are indulging in," they said.
The Union minister directed officials to ensure that the ticketing system is reformed to a level where all travellers are able to book tickets easily through a real and genuine user ID, the press note added.
Additionally, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials to provide local cuisine of the region in Vande Bharat trains.
Introducing local cuisine that reflects the culture and tastes of the regions being traversed will significantly enhance the passenger experience, officials said.
This facility will be expanded to all the trains progressively in future, they added.
