HC grants bail to Basavarajan, ex-administrator of Marugha Math, charges of criminal conspiracy against priest
Arguing for Basavarajan, senior advocate Hasmath Pasha told the court that the allegations against him were politically motivated.
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The Karnataka High Court, former MLA and former administrator of Muruga Math, S.K. Basavarajan has been granted conditional bail. He was in custody on charges of criminal conspiracy against mutt priest Shivamurthy Muruga Sharanaru.
Sharanaru himself is in judicial custody since September 1 on charges of sexually assaulting two minor girls. On Thursday, on Basavarajan's criminal petition, Justice S. Rachaiya's bench conducted the hearing.
Arguing for Basavarajan, senior advocate Hasmath Pasha told the court that the allegations against him were politically motivated. He argued that this was a counter-complaint against Basavarajan after Sharanaru was arrested under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.
He told the court that Basavarajan was in illegal custody as the alleged offense against him had not taken place. The former MLA has been accused of criminal conspiracy, extortion, cheating and prostitution of a minor girl. After Sharanaru's arrest, Basavaprabhu, the in-charge of the Math, lodged a false complaint.