POCSO case accused Murugha Math seer Shivamurthy Muruga Sharanaru released on bail
Chitradurga (Karnataka), Oct 7: A court here on Monday granted bail to Murugha Math seer Shivamurthy Sharanaru, following the completion of interrogation of witnesses in the sexual harassment case, lodged against him under the POCSO Act.
He was imprisoned in the Chitradurga district prison after his arrest in September 2022.
The seer's arrest followed complaints of sexual misconduct from girls at a Math-run institution, with the help of the Mysuru-based NGO 'Odanadi'.
Following the 2nd Additional District and Sessions Court of Chitradurga granting bail, Sharana walked out of the jail, and expressed hope that "truth will win".
"...I will only say that because of the grace of God, I'm out of jail today. I will be going to Shivayogi ashrama in Davanagere....will speak in detail later, it is time to remain silent now. The legal fight is on, I'm hopeful that the truth will win...I have already told devotees what I have to, legal fight will continue," he told reporters here.
Although the Karnataka High Court had initially granted him bail in November 2023, the decision was challenged in the Supreme Court, which had ruled that he would only be released after the interrogation of 13 witnesses.
Basavaprabhu Swami, the interim chief of Murugha Math, expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, saying, "We are happy that he has finally been released from prison."
Swami added that while the seer had been barred from entering Chitradurga district, he would reside at a Math unit in nearby district headquarters town of Davangere and continue to contest the charges legally.
Shivamurthy Sharana was arrested in 2022, followed by the detention of several other individuals connected to the case, including the warden of the Math-run hostel and a junior pontiff. Three FIRs were registered against him. The first, filed on August 26, 2022, included charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Another, on October 13, 2022, was lodged by a cook employed at the Math, alleging that the seer had sexually assaulted four girls, including her daughters.
A third case, filed in October 2022, accused the Math of concealing information about minors living on the premises.
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CBI charge sheets Sanjay Roy for rape and murder of trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical college
New Delhi, Oct 7: Civic volunteer in Kolkata Police Sanjay Roy had raped and killed the trainee doctor in the seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, the CBI has alleged in its first charge sheet in the sensational case filed on Monday while ruling out "gang rape".
In the charge sheet filed before a Sealdah court 54 days after the CBI took over the investigation, the agency said that Roy had committed the crime alone and it has not found evidence so far to substantiate allegations of gang rape and involvement of other individuals, officials in the know of the developments said.
The agency told the court that it has kept the probe open into other aspects of the crime, they said.
The report had annexure carrying statements of prosecution witnesses was filed .
The local police had arrested Roy on the next day of the crime - August 10 - based on the CCTV footage and his inability to explain his conduct at the time of the crime.
The CBI heavily relied on the CCTV footage which showed Roy entering the seminar hall at around 4 AM on August 9, they said. The footage showed that he had left the room after 30 minutes, they said.
The DNA samples collected from his nails also indicated his role in the gruesome crime, they said.
The body of the trainee doctor was found at 9.30 am on August 9 by her colleague who went looking for her before starting ward rounds.
The Tala police station was informed about the "body of a lady lying in an unconscious state" and its team reached the spot around 10.30 am. Her autopsy had shown multiple internal and external injuries on the body.
The CBI has charged Roy with Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 64 and 66 pertaining to rape and 103(1) relating to murder.
Section 66 of the BNS prescribes a punishment for causing the death of a woman during rape, with a minimum of 20 years rigorous imprisonment or life imprisonment or death sentence. Under Section 103 (1), the punishment is death or imprisonment for life.
The CBI, which took over the investigation on August 14 following a Calcutta High Court order, also took Roy’s custody and conducted a detailed interrogation, followed by a polygraph test.
Roy had claimed innocence during questioning and had said that when he entered the room he found the woman doctor unconscious. He could not explain the reasons why he did not inform the police.
Roy had refused to give consent for the narco analysis, following which the CBI could not proceed with the test.
The CBI has also arrested Tala police station officer-in-charge Abhijit Mondal and former principal of the medical college Sandip Ghosh in the case. Ghosh is also facing another CBI case pertaining to alleged corruption.
The junior doctor's killing sparked protests by resident doctors across the country, demanding better security for them.
The Supreme Court also took cognisance of the case and related allegations levelled by agitating doctors and has been holding hearings on the matter.
