Kanchi seer's custody extended to Dec 10

Kanchi seer's custody extended to Dec 10

Friday, November 26, 2004 (New Delhi):

Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati's judicial remand has been extended to December 10.

The seer was produced in a local court in Kanchipuram today as he has completed 15 days of judicial custody ordered by the court.

The police sought the extension of the seer's remand as their investigations into the murder of a former employee of the Kanchi mutt, Shankaraman, are at a crucial stage.

The Kanchi seer will also be produced in a local court in Chennai later in the day in connection with the second case that was filed against him on Wednesday – an attempt to murder a former mutt associate S Radhakrishnan two years ago in Chennai.

'Transfer cases'

Meanwhile, BJP President L K Advani has demanded that all the cases against Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati be tried outside Tamil Nadu to ensure that justice is delivered.

"I know it is for the judiciary to decide, but the way things have gone and the way the Shankaracharya was treated, the people and the nation were concerned...so it is proper to transfer all the cases outside Tamil Nadu," said Advani.

Police reshuffle

In a significant reshuffle in the police department, the Tamil Nadu government has appointed AX Alexander as the new DG Intelligence of the state.

This is perhaps the first time in almost two decades that a DG level officer has been appointed to head the intelligence wing.

Kanchipuram SP, Davidson, has also been shifted out and Prem Kumar returns as SP of the district.

PM expresses concern

This decision came just hours after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, requesting the state government to "take all such measures as appropriate to ensure the physical well being" of Swami Jayendra Saraswati.

The Prime Minister said, "An investigation involving a person of his eminence needs to be conducted with extreme care and consideration."

Jaya's reply

Responding to the letter, Jayalalithaa has clarified that "the investigation is being handled by a special investigation team with extreme care and caution to ensure its thoroughness."

Sri Jayendra Saraswati has been treated with the utmost dignity and consideration befitting his religious status and position in society, she maintained.

A team of doctors has been monitoring his health parameters and has reported that his health condition is quite satisfactory.

"The Government of Tamil Nadu is taking and will continue to take the utmost care to ensure the physical well being of Sri Jayendra Saraswati," claimed Jayalalithaa.

news from ndtv.com

(With PTI inputs)