Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the chief pontiff of Murugha Math, was arrested on Thursday, days after he was booked for alleged sexual abuse of high school girls, PTI reported citing police sources. 

The Mysuru city police had filed an FIR against the seer under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and certain sections of the Indian Penal Code on Saturday.

Two girls had approached a non-governmental organisation in Mysuru and narrated the alleged abuse. Following this, the NGO 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.

The seer was subsequently booked under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act as well. 

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Who is Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru?

Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru is the pontiff of Sri Math. He was coronated on January 31, 1991, as successor of Sri Mallikarjuna Murugharajendra Swamiji.

Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru was born on April 11 1958, in a village named Godabanahal, near Chitradurga. His schooling was conducted in Chitradurga and he completed his graduation from University of Mysore. Sri Mallikarjuna Murugharajendra Swamiji was attracted and impressed by Sharanaru’s sober, spiritual and sincere attributes. He had declared him his successor. Before he was enthroned as a Shoonya Peetha, Sri Mallikarjuna  Murugharajendra Swamiji offered spiritual and social training at different branch Maths. 

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Soon after his inception as seer was completed, functioning of Sri Math gained momentum. He did not subscribe to age-old rituals that were unquestionably practised in the Math. These rituals were not consistent with Sharanas culture and Basava philosophy. 

He switched over to active social service from basic religious ceremonies, by means of which a new, dynamic and progressive outlook was added to the Math’s activities.