Yadgir: A Pocso case was registered at Gogi police station against self-styled godman Mallikarjun Muthya from Mahal Roja, in Shahapur taluk, on charges of inappropriate behaviour with a minor girl. An investigation is under way, police said.A video clip showing Muthya misbehaving with the seven-year-old girl from Maharashtra went viral on social media. Shashidhar Kosambe, the chairman of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said the commission had registered a suo motu complaint and directed the superintendent of police to examine the video and submit a report.
“Once the case was registered, Muthya absconded. However, he assured that he would cooperate with the investigation,” said SP Prithvi Shankar.District child protection officers have visited the mutt, met the girl’s parents, and conducted an inquiry. “We have been visiting the mutt for the past three years. When we came here on Feb 19, Muthya hugged our daughter close,” the parents of the minor said. Police said the parents had recorded it on their mobile phones and uploaded the clip on social media, hoping it would receive a large number of ‘likes’, since the mutt has many followers.After receiving a report from the district child protection officers, the District-Level Coordination Committee, comprising the deputy commissioner, the zilla panchayat CEO, the SP, and the member secretary of the Legal Services Authority, jointly watched the video clip and directed appropriate action. The incident took place when the girl went to the mutt to celebrate her aunt’s birthday. It appears that the accused had touched the child inappropriately and the act was intentionally. Therefore, a Pocso case was registered, the committee explained.Photo: 26-Mallikarjun Muthya
