The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday cancelled the anticipatory bail granted by a special court to Vachanananda Swami, expelled head of Veerashaiva Lingayat Panchamasali Guru Peetha of Harihar, in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case as the special court had failed to hear the victim as per law.
However, the High Court granted the seer three weeks to seek regular bail, since the police have already filed a chargesheet against him, from the special court for POCSO cases in Davangere district, while extending protection from his arrest till then as the seer had the benefit of anticipatory bail till now.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, who passed the order on the petition filed by the victim boy’s mother for cancellation of bail, also made it clear that the High Court has not gone into the merits of the case as the anticipatory bail was cancelled only on finding fault in the procedure adopted by the special court.
Also, the High Court made it clear that the special court is at liberty to consider the plea to be filed by the seer seeking regular bail as per the law.
The seer has been accused of inappropriate behaviour with a minor boy who was staying in the hostel run by the mutt in Harihar. The FIR was registered based on the complaint lodged by the mother of the 16-year-old boy.
Published – June 25, 2026 09:16 pm IST