˜Rape-accused seer's DNA test positive'

Bengaluru, Dec 13: Advocate General (AG)?Ravivarma Kumar on Friday submitted to the High Court that the reports of the DNA test and other medical examination conducted on Raghaveshwara Bharathi, seer of Ramachandrapura Mutt accused of rape, are positive and support prosecution's claims.

During the hearing of the case, when the AG submitted two sealed envelopes containing the medical reports of the seer to the division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice R B Budihal, the bench asked the AG to read the contents of the report in the open court. The AG complied and said that the reports were positive and supported prosecution's claims.

The bench later asked the AG if the evidence in the DNA report was sufficient to file a charge sheet against the seer. The AG replied in the affirmative, but said they still wished to investigate. He, however, contended that the seer was not cooperating with the probe.

Senior counsel B V Acharya, appearing for the seer, asked the IPC section under which the charge sheet would be filed. When the AG conferred with CID officers on whether IPC Section 376 (rape) would be invoked, counsel Acharya argued that the complaint by the victim was registered under IPC Section 354A (sexual harassment) and how the charge sheet could be filed under Section 376. The counsel argued that the seer was implicated by people who wanted to dethrone him. The bench asked the seer's counsel if he wished to continue his argument despite prosecution submitting that the charge sheet would be filed under IPC Section 376. Acharya said he would.

The bench adjourned the hearing to December 15. Raghaveshwara Bharathi has been accused of raping a singer from the Ramakatha group and has filed a writ appeal challenging the single bench order permitting the CID police to continue investigation in relation to a sexual harassment  or rape case filed against him.