Not involved in conspiracy against seer, says Murugha Math's Administrative Officer
Chitradurga, Sep 1: Accused by some of his role in two high school girls levelling sexual abuse charges against Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of Murugha Math, the seminary's administrative officer S K Basavarajan on Thursday said he was not involved in any conspiracy against the pontiff and he has done his duty by trying to protect the children.
Breaking his silence for the first time, the former MLA, who along with his wife were accused of conspiring against the seer by Math officials, said every thing will be known to everyone in the days to come, and if the children were right, they will get justice.
Basavarajan and his wife were today granted bail by the the first additional district and sessions judge's court here in a case of sexual harassment and kidnapping that were registered against them on a complaint by a woman, who is said to be a staff at the Math.
He said the case against him and his wife was 'completely false' and a "counter" to cases filed against the seer and four others, as the pontiff's followers in the Math believe in his involvement and conspiracy behind the girls' charges against the seer.
"I have no role in this case, there is no conspiracy on my part, I'm being intentionally accused. As the case is before the Court, I don't want to comment more," Basavarajan said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said every thing will be known to everyone in the days to come.
He was responding to a query as to whether the charges against the seer were true and were there any irregular things happening in the math.
"I have given protection to those children, I have done my duty to an extent possible. When those children were at a police station in Bengaluru, my wife, son and I had gone there in the night and brought them back by giving in writing, and handed them over to their parents...if the children are true they will get justice, if not they will not," he added.
According to sources, the girls are said to have gone to Bengaluru in search of help and to narrate their ordeal, before going to Mysuru.
The Mysuru city police had on Saturday filed an FIR against the seer under the POCSO Act and certain sections of the Indian Penal Code for the alleged sexual abuse.
The FIR was registered against a total of five people, including the warden of the monastery's hostel, based on the complaint by an officer of the District Child Protection Unit.
Two girls had approached a non-governmental organisation in Mysuru and narrated the alleged abuse, following which it approached the authorities and the case was registered by the police.
The case was subsequently shifted to Chitradurga, as it was the place of occurrence of the alleged crime.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
