Sankararaman murder case accused Appu granted bail

Chennai, Nov 22 (UNI) Madras High Court today granted bail to Appu, alias Krishnasamy, a key accused in the Sankararaman murder case in which the two Kanchi Acharyas are arraigned as prime accused.

Allowing an application, Justice M Thanikachalam granted bail on condition that Appu should reside within the limits of Krishnagiri and report to the Judicial Magistrate Court-I daily at 1000 hrs, except on the hearing of the case in Puducherry.

The Judge added that the accused should execute a bond of Rs one lakh and two sureties for a like sum to the satisfaction of Judicial Magistrate court-I, Kancheepuram.

The accused should not tamper with witnesses, should not contact co-accused and should surrender the passport, if he had one, the Judge further said.

Appu, who, according to police, had acted as the head of the gang, which murdered Sankararaman, was the fifth accused in the case to be granted bail. He was arrested on December 19, 2004.

The two acharyas of the Kanchi mutt, who were cited as main accused in the case, Mutt Manager Sundaresan and Junior Acharyas brother Ragu have already been released on bail. The case is being tried in a Magistrate court in Puducherry.

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