Shankarraman Murder Case: Five more witnesses turn hostile

Puducherry, Apr 22 (ANI): Five more prosecution witnesses on Thursday turned hostile in the Sankararaman murder case, during the trial in a local court here.

Kanchi Sankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswathi and junior seer Vijayendra Saraswathi are the prime accused in the case.

On September 3, 2004, Sankararaman, a manager of the Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Tamil Nadu's Kancheepuram District, was murdered in the temple premises

Five of the eleven witnesses examined by Special Public Prosecutor N Devadoss before Principal and District Sessions Judge D Krishnaraja contradicted their statements made earlier to the police.

Judge Krishnaraja has adjourned the hearing till Friday.

More witnesses could be examined at tomorrows hearing.

Of the 24 accused, only seven were present in court when the statements were recorded.

Of the 83 prosecution witnesses examined, 45 have turned hostile so far.

In October 2005, the Supreme Court had shifted the trial to Puducherry following a petition by Jayendra Saraswathi.

The case has attracted nation wide attention after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa ordered the arrest of Jayendra Saraswathi. (ANI)