Hearing in Sankararaman murder case adjourned to June 8

A local court today adjourned to June 8 hearing in the Sankararaman murder case in which Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi and his junior Vijayendra Saraswathi are the prime accused.

When the case came up before principal district and sessions judge T Ramaswamy, special public prosecutor N Devadoss examined two witnesses, including SP Sakthivelu who was chief investigating officer for the probe and has since retired.

Of the 24 accused, only seven were present during hearing today. The absentees included the two Seers.

Sankararaman, manager in the Varadarajaperumal temple in Kancheepuram was allegedly murdered on the premises of the temple on September 3, 2004. The Sankaracharya and his deputy Vijayendra Saraswathi have been charged with conspiracy in eliminating Sankararaman out of personal enmity.

So far 189 witnesses have been examined since commencement of the trial here about two years ago, of whom 81 have turned hostile.

The special public orosecutor told PTI that the next hearing from June 8 would go on for three consecutive days.

The case was shifted to Puducherry by the Supreme Court on a petition by the Sankaracharya in October 2005.