Seer held on charge of sexually exploiting woman on promise of marriage

The North East Women Police on Monday (October 12) arrested a 45-year-old seer of the Maddavanapura Devaveera Samsthana Mutt for allegedly sexually exploiting a 25-year-old woman on the promise of marriage, refusing to marry her later and threatening her with dire consequences.

The case was registered on October 8, based on a complaint by the victim.

According to the FIR, the main accused, Guru Nanjeshwara Shivacharya Mahaswamy, also known as Dayananda, is the head of the mutt. The complainant, who said she had known the seer and his family for years, had lived with her aunt in a house belonging to the mutt since she was about 10 years old. She studied at the mutt’s school and college.

The complaint states that the seer obtained her mobile number through family members after a trip to Mysuru in 2023 and sent her photographs taken during the outing. They subsequently began exchanging messages and speaking over the phone, and their relationship grew closer.

When the woman later asked him to marry her, he allegedly refused, abused her and warned her against disclosing the relationship to anyone. He also allegedly threatened to kill her if she revealed the matter.

Based on the complaint, the police registered a case against the seer and his brother. Further investigation is expected to establish the circumstances and examine the allegations.