Daijiworld Media Network – Karwar (SP)
Karwar, Sep 12: Two police teams arrived at Honnavar on Thursday September 11 to investigate the two cases involving Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji of Sri Ramachandrapur Math, one relating to blackmail by Premalata Shastri couple, and other, sexual atrocity. One of these teams is headed deputy superintendent of police, Simon, while the other is led by deputy superintendent of police, Ashok Kumar. CID superintendent of police, Siri Gowri, is guiding both these teams.
The personnel met B R Chandrashekhar, who has filed a complaint of blackmail against Shastri couple, and recorded his statements. In the meanwhile, the CID team has also been permitted by the Honnavar court of judicial magistrate (first class), to obtain statements from Premalata couple, who are in judicial custody at present.
In the meanwhile, Union of Progressive Organizations, has urged the state government to file an appeal against the high court directive that has stayed arrest of Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji. Members of the union met deputy commissioner, Vipul Bansal, on Thursday and handed over a petition. The organization has termed the high court order barring police from arresting or interrogating Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji till September 19 as unfortunate. 'Even if the Swamiji is innocent, he has to come clean through due legal process. The police department, which arrested Premalata and Diwakar Shastri immediately after complaint of blackmail was registered against the couple, functioned against the principle of equality before law by not arresting the accused Swamiji even after a woman complained that she had been raped by him,' the union pointed out.
The Honnavar court has reserved its order on the bail petition moved by Premalata Shastri couple in the case of blackmail registered against them, to September 16. Presiding officer of the court, M S Harini, who had extended judicial custody of the couple till September 23 on Wednesday, heard the arguments placed by the assistant public prosecutor against the bail petitions on Thursday. Judge from Mangalore, Mahesh Kaje, who was earlier allowed by the district court in Karwar to additionally represent complainant, B R Chandrashekar, also appeared in Honnava court and filed written objections to the bail petition. Advocate for the couple, M L Naik, presented his counter arguments, after which the judge reserved the order to September 16.