Karnataka Seer Faces Rape Allegations: 'Conspiracy', Or Abuse Of School Girls?

A prominent seer in Karnataka booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) claims he is the victim of a conspiracy. But the charges against the chief pontiff of the Murugha Mutt, Dr Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru are serious. The FIR alleges that the pontiff and four others sexually abused two high school girls who stayed at one of the hostels run by the mutt. The statements of the girls have also been recorded in front of the Child Welfare Committee. The abuse happened for two years between 2019 and 2022. Is it conspiracy against the seer or is the state going slow on the pontiff?