Sankararaman case: Probe order against Kanchi seer

Chennai, Feb 27: The Madras High Court today directed the cyber crime branch of Tamil Nadu Police to probe charges that attempts are being made to influence the judgement in the September 2004 Sankararaman murder case, in which Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi is the main accused.

A division bench comprising justices Paul N Vasanathakumar and GM Akbar Ali also directed continuation of the trial in a Puducherry sessions court, which has been stayed.

Hearing petitions filed by advocates P Sundararajan, Manikandan and others, alleging that attempts to influence the judge are available on tapes, the bench directed the DGP to appoint Dr Sudhakar, Additional Deputy Commissioner of cyber crime branch or any other officer of his rank, to investigate the complaint and file a report within three months.

Sankararaman was the Manager in the Varadarajaperumal temple in Kancheepuram and was allegedly murdered in his office on the premises of the temple on September 3, 2004.

Jayendra and his junior Vijayendra Saraswathi have been charged under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy).

The trial was shifted from Chengalpattu court to Puducherry as per the Supreme Court order given on a petition filed before the Apex Court by the Kanchi seer in October 2005.

PTI