The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Arrest of Junior Acharya legally correct: Veeramani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Arrest of Junior Acharya legally correct: Veeramani

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 11. The Dravidar Kazhagam president, K. Veeramani, today said the arrest of the junior Acharya, Vijayendra Saraswathi, was legally correct.

In a statement here, Mr. Veeramani said the arrest should not be construed as an instant action by the police as the Acharya had been questioned by the police several times in connection with the Sankararaman murder case.

Moreover, the second and the third accused, Ravi Subramaniam and Appu, had given confession statements about the Acharya's involvement in the case. He was arrested only after the police had gathered sufficient evidence against him in the case.

The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, G. K. Vasan, said the arrest of the junior Acharya raised doubts and it was the responsibility of the Government to dispel them.

The general secretary of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Vaiko, today said that the timing and circumstances of the arrest of the junior Acharya gave rise to many interpretations and speculation.

It was pertinent to note that the Tamil Nadu police had made the arrest hours after the Supreme Court granted bail to the Kanchi Acharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, he said.

The Tamil Nadu Muslim Makkal Katchi said by arresting the junior Acharya, the Government had paralysed the functioning of the 2500-year-old mutt.

The party president, in a memorandum to the Tamil Nadu Governor, described the action as "highhanded" which would hurt the sentiments of Hindus.

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