Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Apr 29: The state high court (HC) has admitted a criminal appeal preferred by the state government against the civil court order dismissing the rape case filed against Sri Raghaveshwara Bharatiteertha Swamiji of Ramachandrapur Math for hearing.
The single judge bench of the HC presided over by Justice A V Chandrashekhar, which heard the appeal, ordered issuance of emergent notice to Sri Raghaveshwara Swamiji, before adjourning the hearing. It also instructed the registrar of the high court to summon all the documents relating to the case.
Judge of the sessions court, G B Mudigoudar, who had heard the rape case filed by former Ram Katha singer of Ramachandrapur Math, Premalata Diwakar, had acquitted the Swamiji from rape charges through a judgement delivered on March 31 this year. The state government represented by the investigating officer of criminal investigation department (CID) has now preferred an appeal against this judgement.
The sessions court judge had said in the verdict that the government does not have any evidences to support the charges levelled against the Swamiji. But the CID has claimed that its investigation report contains all the evidences and proofs about the Swamiji's involvement with rape. In its appeal, it said that the sessions judge had not taken into consideration the evidences submitted by it in support of the charges, and felt that the lower court was not in order in absolving the Swamiji of rape charges without holding detailed hearing.
Special public prosecutor who appeared on behalf of the CID in his argument, demanded for dismissing the judgement passed by the sessions judge.
In the meanwhile, six persons including Edurkala Ishwar Bhat have filed a public interest litigation in the state high court seeking to unseat Sri Raghaveshwara Swamiji from his position as the spiritual head of Ramachandrapur Math, as he is facing charges of misuse of power, tax fraud, and rape. They have asked the administration of the Math to be taken over by the government and appointment of administrator to manage its affairs and for holding detailed investigation into all the cases in which the Swamiji is an accused.
The division bench of high court chief justice, S K Mukherjee and Justice Ravi Malimath, which heard the PIL, asked the petitioners to submit a memorandum containing their demands to the state chief secretary. It also ordered issuance of notices to Sri Raghaveshwara Swamiji, Ramachandrapur Math, central and state governments, and the state chief income tax commissioner, before adjourning the hearing.