The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Acharya should be freed as Kathiravan has retracted'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 26, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Acharya should be freed as Kathiravan has retracted'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, NOV. 25. The Bharatiya Janata Party today demanded the immediate release of the jailed Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, in the wake of the submission by Kathiravan, an accused in the Sankararaman murder case, before a magistrate that the police forced him to give a confessional statement.

The State general secretary, G. Kumaravelu, said Kathiravan's earlier statement was used to arrest the Sankaracharya and now that the accused had gone back on his statement Sri Jayendra Saraswathi should be freed.

`Unusual gesture'

Adverting to the Government sanctioning Rs. 5 lakhs to the family of Sankararaman, the BJP leader wondered whether it would make the same gesture in every case. Also, on arresting the Sankaracharya, the Government sent its aircraft to bring him from Hyderabad to Chennai before he was taken to a Kancheepuram court. This was something "not normally done." Mr. Kumaravelu asked why the principle of "all are equal before law" was not followed in the two instances.

Action demanded

Talking to reporters at Karaikudi, another general secretary H. Raja, demanded severe action against investigating officers and said the police could not keep a person in "police custody" for more than 24 hours. But, according to the submission, Kathiravan was kept in custody for several days "illegally" before the arrest.

Urging the Centre not to remain a silent spectator, Mr. Raja said, "the case should be transferred to another State as justice will not be done in Tamil Nadu and the whole case should be reinvestigated."

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