Shankar Raman murder case: SC notice to TN on plea by Appu

New Delhi, Mar 10: The Supreme Court today issued notice to the state of Tamil Nadu on a petition filed by K G Kumaraswamy alias Appu, prime accused in the Shankar Raman murder case.

A bench comprising Mr Justice G P Mathur and Mr Justice Dalveer Bhandari issued notices after hearing the counsel for the petitioner who contended that there was not an iota of evidence to connect the accused with the murder of the deceased.

Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati was arrested by the Special Investigating team of Tamil Nadu police on Nov 11, 2004. The dead body of Shankar Raman, manager of Sri Varadarajaperumal temple was recovered on Sept 3,2004 and a case of murder was registered at police station Vishnu Kanchi.

The prosecution case is that the deceased wrote certain letters to the Shankaracharya threatening to expose him following which a conspiracy was hatched and the Shankaracharya decided to spend Rs 50 lakh for the murder of the victim. The present petitioner is alleged to have given two receipts of Rs 10 and 20 lakh to the approver.

The trial of the case was transferred to Pondicherry by the apex court on the petition of the Shankaracharya who expressed the apprehension that free and fair trial was not possible in the state as the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was taking personal interest in the case.

Jayanendra Saraswati was granted bail by the apex court on Jan 10, 2005.

The petitioner has come in appeal against the Madras high court order dismissing his second bail application saying that there was no change in circumstances.

UNI