The investigation into the rape accused Lingayat seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru has revealed that he allegedly sexually assaulted minor girls for over a decade, police sources said on Monday. Shivamurthy Sharanaru is presently lodged in the district prison of Chitradurga.

The police are corroborating the shocking statements issued by several people against the accused seer’s habit of sexually exploiting minors in the Chitradurga Murugha mutt for over 10 years. Sharananda Swamiji, who was formerly with the Murugha mutt, has claimed there were more victims. He also claimed that some of the victims had to get abortions, while others left the mutt hostel and disappeared.