Two more prosecution witnesses examined in Sankararaman case

Puducherry,Feb22 (PTI) Two more prosecution witnesseswere examined in the Sankararaman murder case, in which KanchiSankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi and his junior JayendraSaraswathi are the main accused.

Of the 24 accused, only six were present when the hearingresumed before the Principal District and Sessions JudgeT.Ramaswamy.

The absentees included the two seers,who have been chargedunder IPC sections 120-B (Criminal conspiracy) and 302(murder).

Special Public Prosecutor N.Devaodss examined thewitnesses.

He told PTI later that although five witnesses weresummoned and present in the court only two were examined.

Examination of the other three witnesses was dispensed withas their higher authorities had already examined them andrecorded their evidence, he said.

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

A total of 156 prosecution witnesses have been examinedsince the commencement of the trial two years ago here and 75have turned hostile.

The trial was shifted to Puducherry court fromChengalpattu district court on the Supreme Court''s order inOctober 2005 following a petition filed by the Kanchi seerJayendra Saraswathi.

Further hearing would take place tomorrow.