Bengaluru, Nov. 27 -- A Chitradurga court on Wednesday acquitted Shivamurthy Murugha Sharan, leader of the Murugha Mutt, in one of the two cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act against him on charges of sexual harassment of girls staying in the hostel run by the mutt.

Second additional sessions court judge Gangadharappa Hadapad held that the pontiff and two co-accused, Rashmi and Paramashivayya, were not guilty of the charges brought against them. A detailed judgment is awaited.

The case was registered in August 2022 after two minors residing in the hostel alleged sexual abuse by five individuals, including the leader, a warden, a manager, and two others associated with the institution. The F...