The Hindu : Front Page : Firm evidence of Acharya's involvement: Jayalalithaa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 18, 2004

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Front Page

Firm evidence of Acharya's involvement: Jayalalithaa

By S. Dorairaj

CHENNAI, NOV.17. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, told the State Assembly today that her Government's action against the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, was based on "firm evidence of his involvement" in the Sankararaman murder case and also in tune with the dictum that "all are equal before the law." She also made it clear that her Government had "no intention at all" of taking over the administration of the Kanchi Sankara Mutt.

Presenting a suo motu statement, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that seizure of several documents from Sankararaman's house and interrogation of the witnesses showed the "involvement of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, the head of Kanchi Sankara Mutt, in the murder," she said.

Giving the background of the case, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that on the basis of a complaint lodged by Ganesh, an employee of the Varadarajaperumal temple, the Vishnu Kanchi police registered a case on the murder of Sankararaman, manager of the temple, on September 3 and took up the investigation.

A 29-member special team led by the Kancheepuram district Additional Superintendent of Police (Prohibition Enforcement Wing), Sakthivel, was formed to probe the murder. The investigations were carried on under the supervision of the Superintendents of Police of Kancheepuram, Cuddalore and Tiruvallur districts.

`Proxy surrender'

Recalling the "proxy surrender" episode, the Chief Minister said that five persons — Pandian alias `Dil' Pandian, Arumugam, Satish, Devaraj and Arun — surrendered before the XV Metropolitan Magistrate Court in George Town, Chennai, on October 27. As it was found that they were not involved in the murder and that money was promised to enact the proxy surrender with a view to diverting the investigation directed against the real culprits, they were charged under Sections 201 IPC and remanded to judicial custody.

The probe into the proxy surrender led to the arrest of six persons. Four of them — Palani, Kuruvi Ravi, Sekar and Sundaram — were arrested and remanded on November 6 under Sections 201 and 120 (B) IPC. Two others — Kumar and Anand — who were directly involved in the murder were arrested and remanded under Section 302 IPC on November 7. Senthilkumar and Arumugam were arrested on November 8 under Sections 201 and 120 (B) IPC and remanded to custody on charges of enacting the "surrender drama." One of the accused in the murder case, `Maadu' Baskar, surrendered before the Tiruvottiyur Judicial Magistrate on November 5.

`Shocking evidence'

Two of the prime accused — Kathiravan and Rajini of Chennai — were arrested under Sections 302 and 120(B) IPC on November 9 and remanded to judicial custody on November 10. Interrogation of them, their confessions and materials seized from them brought out "shocking, firm evidence" on the Acharya's "involvement in the brutal murder of Sankararaman, in the transfer of a huge sum from the Mutt's bank account as payment for the murder and in the proxy surrender of five persons and in contacting the assailants over phone," she claimed.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said that the investigation showed that the Sankaracharya, in association with Ravi Subramaniam, Appu alias Krishnasamy, and Kathiravan, "conspired" to murder Sankararaman. Special teams were pressed into service to nab Ravi Subramaniam and Appu alias Krishnasamy. Investigation also showed that huge amounts had changed hands for the murder, the proxy surrender and confessions.

On suggestions that the Government should take over the administration of the Kanchi Mutt, she said the Government had no intention at all to do so. Its wish was that the Mutt should continue to uphold the traditions and principles of Hinduism.

`All are equal before law'

"Many commend the Government on the ground that through the arrest of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, it has asserted that all are equal and none is big or small before the law. Some question the propriety involved in the arrest of an influential religious head. The Government has not resorted to this action expecting bouquets for arresting the Sankaracharya or fearing brickbats for not arresting him. The Government headed by me has taken the action under the principle that all are equal before the law," she said.

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