The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Prosecution seeks to examine approver

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 25, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Prosecution seeks to examine approver

By K.T. Sangameswaran

The Kanchi Acharyas, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi and Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, arrive at the Kancheepuram court on Thursday. — Photo: K. Pichumani

KANCHEEPURAM, FEB. 24. The prosecution in the `Kanchi Sankararaman murder case' today moved the Court of the Judicial Magistrate-I here seeking permission to examine the accused-turned approver, Ravi Subramaniam.

But the judge said the examination would be done before the case is committed to the Sessions Court for trial.

Not much progress has been made in the case, as the charge sheet copies were not given to the accused even today.

The court extended judicial custody for the accused till March 10. When the case was taken up, all the 24 accused, including the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, and his junior, Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, and the approver were present.

Submitting a memo, the Special Public Prosecutor, T. Balasundaram, said only a Session Court could try the case and the committal should be made within six weeks of the filing of the charge sheet. Already, five weeks passed. The prosecution was willing to furnish the copies of the charge sheet if the court permitted. Only after the examination of the approver could the court commit the case. Hence an early date could be fixed for examining him. As the approver was also present, examination could be taken up today. The Magistrate, G. Uthamaraj, however, said it would be done before the committal.

The senior Acharya arrived in the court at 10.10 a.m. shortly after which the junior came.

As the Madras High Court granted anticipatory bail to Sri Jayendra Saraswathi in the `Kanchi mutt account tampering case,' he surrendered before the Magistrate. Two sureties were also furnished.

Later, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi was seated in the court verandah. A few lawyers objected to this as the path was blocked and there was a heated argument between them and the Acharya's followers. The Acharya went back to his van and the two Acharyas, who are now on bail, were talking inside the vehicle. (During the last hearing on February 10, the junior Acharya was in judicial custody).

When the murder case came up for hearing at 12.30 p.m, all the accused were called and the two Acharyas stood one behind the other. The court later extended the remand of the accused and adjourned the case.

The approver told the court that he needed more security and the Magistrate said he had already written to the authorities to provide additional security. Mr. Subramaniam wanted action to be taken on his complaint against two advocates (who allegedly threatened him inside the sub-jail). The Magistrate said that an FIR had already been registered in connection with the matter. "You can pursue the case."

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