The Hindu : National : "My guru would not have committed such a heinous crime"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

National

National

"My guru would not have committed such a heinous crime"

By Our Staff Reporter

KANCHEEPURAM, DEC. 29. The junior Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, said today that his guru, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, would not have committed such a heinous act. The Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, has been cited as the prime accused in the case of murder of Sankararaman, manager of Sri Varadarajaperumal temple, here. He was arrested on November 11.

Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, who met presspersons today, said that he had told the special investigation team that his guru would not have committed "such things." "I have answered the questions asked by the police," was his reply when reporters asked him about the questioning.

Asked whether he would be meeting Sri Jayendra Saraswathi at the Vellore Central Prison, he said that his senior had sent word not to visit him now. "However, if permission is granted, I will meet him," he added.

Earlier, the junior Acharya arrived at the investigation bungalow at 11 a.m. and after questioning left for the Sankara Mutt at 2 p.m. The Mutt's counsel, Y. Thiyagarajan, A. Shanmugam and K.S. Chellappa, accompanied him to the investigation bungalow.

The special investigation team issued summons to the junior Acharya on December 25 asking him to appear before it at 11 a.m. on December 26. He was questioned by the police for about an hour that day and fresh summons was said to have been served on him last night asking him to appear before the team today.

VHP leader's clarification

Meanwhile, the VHP vice-president, S. Vedantam, has clarified that Sri Jayendra Saraswathi had only said that he was nor averse to the Government taking things they wanted from the Sankara Mutt, if that would benefit the people as the Acharya felt that being a sanyasi he had no attachment to things. He was not talking about a government takeover of the Mutt. Mr. Vedantam met the Acharya at the Vellore prison on Monday.

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