Published May 15, 2026 | 12:28 PM ⚊ Updated May 15, 2026 | 12:28 PM
Vachanananda swami.
Synopsis: Vachanananda Swami, the former head of the Veerashaiva Lingayat Panchamsali Gurupeetha in Harihar, Karnataka, was questioned for several hours on Thursday by police in connection with allegations that he sexually harassed a minor boy. The seer, who had secured anticipatory bail earlier this month after the allegations surfaced in April, was later taken to a hospital for medical tests.
Vachanananda Swami, the former head of the Veerashaiva Lingayat Panchamsali Gurupeetha in Harihar, Karnataka, was questioned for several hours on Thursday by a police team in connection with a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually harassing a minor.
The interrogation was led by Davangere Deputy Superintendent of Police BS Basavaraj. The seer was later taken to a local hospital for medical tests.
Police had earlier issued a notice to the seer to appear for questioning. The case was originally registered at the Lakshmeshwar Police Station in Gadag district and later transferred to the Harihar Rural Police Station.
The seer secured anticipatory bail earlier this month after the allegations first surfaced in April.
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According to police, Vachananda Swami is accused of sexually harassing a 16-year-old boy. The survivor, who studied in classes VI, VII and VIII at a government school in Hanagavadi, Harihar taluk, stayed at a free hostel run by the mutt between 2021 and 2024.
The complaint was filed by the survivor’s mother. It alleged that the former seer made the boy “massage all over his body, including private parts”, and that he “sexually assaulted the children by touching their private parts” during this period.
The seer also allegedly threatened the boy with “dire consequences if he were to reveal the incident to anyone”.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Anisha Reddy)
