Pejavar seer gives clean chit to K'taka Govt

Udupi (Karnataka), Jan 5: Sri Vishvesha Thirtha Swamiji of the Udupi Pejavar Mutt today refuted charges framed against him in an attempt to murder case and gave a clean chit to the Karnataka Government in the filing of the case.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the State Government had nothing to do with the case. ''It is a personal case filed by one Venkatesh and it is totally baseless.'' Declining to comment more on the case stating that it was sub-judice, the seer said he owned moral responsibility for inadvertently giving public money of Rs 12 lakh received as 'pada kanike' (offering) to Venkatesh and his friend by his employee. Of that amount, Rs five lakh had been given back by the other person.

''I have never threatened or instigated anyone in my life. On the other hand, I am for settling any issue in a peaceful manner,'' he said.

UNI