Bengaluru, Nov. 27 -- A Chitradurga court on Wednesday acquitted Shivamurthy Murugha Sharan, seer of the Murugha Mutt, in two POCSO cases filed against him on allegations of sexual harassment of minor girls staying in the hostel run by the mutt.

Second Additional Sessions Court Judge Gangadharappa Hadapad held that the seer and two co-accused, Rashmi and Paramashivayya, were not guilty of the charges brought against them. The judge stated briefly that "the accused in the POCSO case are acquitted."

A detailed judgement is awaited.

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