SC adjourns hearing of 'Appu' bail plea

New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the bail application of K G Krishnaswamy alias 'Appu', allegedly involved in the murder of Sankaraman, former manager of Kanchi Mutt, in which the Shankaracharya of the Mutt Jayendra Saraswati is the main accused, to be heard on July 4.

Vacation bench comprising Justices A R Lakshmanan and Altamas Kabir also directed the petitioner to file his rejoinder before the next date of hearing.

Counsel for the state of Tamil Nadu informed the Court that he would be filing his counter during the course of the day.

Appu, a gangster of Tamil Nadu was allegedly engaged by Shankaracharya to eliminate the deceased, who threatened to expose Jayendra Saraswati.

According to the petitioner, all other accused have been granted bail and he has been in jail for the past 18 months and has been falsely framed in the case and is fully entitled to be released on bail.

The trial of the case has been transferred to Pondicherry by this Court on the grounds that the then state Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was taking personal interest in the case and hence the state machinery was biased against the accused person and therefore free and fair trial was not possible in Tamil Nadu.

The proceedings before the Pondicherry Court have also been stayed by this Court following controversy regarding the appointment of the public prosecutor by the Tamil Nadu government.

According to the petitioner, many accused after having been granted bail were booked under 'Tamil Nadu Goonda Act' immediately after their release on bail.

UNI AKS/SC AD RP DS1646