CHITRADURGA: in connection with the sexual exploitation of minor girls, the Karnataka Police will reportedly on Saturday question rape-accused Lingayat seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru.

A team of officers led by Investigation Officer Deputy SP Anil Kumar will start questioning him at his workplace, said the police officals.

The spent two hours questioning the alleged seer about the case on Friday, they said. Judge B.K. Komala of the Second District and Sessions' Court has criticised the prosecution for moving the alleged seer to a hospital without informing the court.

The police are likely to question the seer for sexually assaulting minor girls and will also be expected to look into allegations that he made the crime a habit in the mutt. District surgeon Basavaraju, who claimed that the seer had cardiac problems, has also come under scrutiny.

The court also ordered that the seer's usual prison meals be served, rejecting the seer's counsel's request for "Saatvik food." 

Since Chitradurga does not have a female prison, the second defendant in the case, dorm warden Rashmi, was placed in judicial detention for 14 days and transferred to the Shivamogga central jail. Police are currently looking for three further suspects, including minor junior pontiff Basavaditya Swamiji, who have fled.

They have requested anticipatory bail from the court. On Friday, the accused seer broke down in the court hall and wept when the court handed him over to the police custody, sources said.

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