Supporters of Mallikarjun Mutya stage protest seeking withdrawal of case

Members of Koli-Kabbaliga Horata Samiti and followers of Mallikarjun Mutya of the Mahal Roja Mutt in Shahapur taluk, Yadgir district, staged a protest at Jagat Circle in Kalaburagi on Monday, urging authorities to withdraw the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case registered against him.

The protest was led by Koli-Kabbaliga Scheduled Tribes Horata Samiti president Lachappa Jamadar.

The protestors maintained that the seer shares a father-like relationship with the girl seen in the video. They said that the video has been “projected in a negative light”.

They described the FIR as baseless and demanded its withdrawal, asserting that no formal complaint has been filed by the child’s family.

The agitators also warned of intensifying their agitation if their demands are not addressed. The demonstration, which lasted a couple of hours, blocked the main connecting roads and disrupted vehicular movement.

Mallikarjun Mutya was booked on February 25 under Section 12 of the POCSO Act after a video showing him behaving inappropriately with a minor girl was circulated on social media.

The footage, reportedly recorded at the mutt on February 19, triggered public outrage and prompted intervention by child welfare authorities.

The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) took suo motu cognisance of the matter and sought a report from district officials, leading to an inquiry by the District Child Protection Office.

A District-level Coordination Committee subsequently reviewed the case and recommended registration of an FIR.