Muruga Mutt: HC grants bail to Muruga Shree

Team Udayavani, Nov 16, 2023, 1:19 PM IST

Dr. Sri Shivamurthy Muruga Sharan, the spiritual leader associated with Muruga Math, has been released from Chitradurga District Jail after spending 14 months in confinement. The release comes following the grant of bail by the High Court in the initial POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) case.

The second additional district and sessions court of Chitradurga, serving as the trial court, officially sanctioned the release on Wednesday afternoon. Due to a delay in the delivery of the court order later in the evening, Dr. Muruga Sharan was eventually released at 12:40 pm following the morning completion of the release procedures at the district jail.

The High Court’s conditional bail, issued on November 8 in the first case, outlined specific terms for Dr. Muruga Sharan’s release. Notably, he is prohibited from entering Chitradurga until the trial concludes. Both Dr. Muruga Sharan and an accomplice must provide surety, attend court proceedings via video conference, furnish a bond surety of Rs. 2 lakhs, surrender their passports to the court, and refrain from threatening witnesses. The High Court has emphasized that any such misconduct should not be repeated.

Upon his release, Dr. Muruga Sharan was welcomed by devotees and lawyers.