3 more prosecution witnesses examined in Sankararaman case

Puducherry, Feb 21 (PTI): Three more prosecution witnesseswere examined today during trial in the Sankararaman murdercase, in which Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi andhis junior Jayendra Saraswathi are he main accused.

When hearing in the case resumed before the PrincipalDistrict and sessions Judge T Ramaswamy, only seven of the 24accused were present. The absentees included the two seers.

Of the 154 witnesses examined so far since commencement ofthe trial two years ago, as many as 75 have turned hostile.

Sankararaman, Manager of the Varadararjaperumal temple inKancheepuram, was allegedly murdered on the premises of thetemple on September 3, 2004.

The two seers had been accused of hatching a conspiracy tomurder Sankararaman.

Special Public Prosecutor N Devadoss, who examined theprosecution witnesses, said 10 more witnesses would beexamined tomorrow.

The trial was shifted to Puducherry from Chengalpattudistrict court on Supreme Court''s order in October 2005. PTICOR APR