HC criticises SIT handling of cases against Kanchi Mutt

Madras High Court restrained SIT from proceeding further on the summons issued to a doctor attached to the mutt for raising funds for fighting the cases.

Criticising the manner in which police were handling cases against the Kanchi Mutt and its Sankaracharyas, the Madras High Court on Friday restrained them from proceeding further on the summons issued to a doctor attached to the mutt for raising funds for fighting the cases.

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Justice KP Sivasubramanian issued the interim order, effective till March 22, on a petition filed by Dr S Bhaskaran, attached to the Sankara Netralaya and an ardent devotee of Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi, who was summoned in connection with raising funds through a website to fight cases involving the mutt and its Acharayas.

According to the summons, issued by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing cases against the mutt and its acharayas, the doctor was appealing to devotees over a website 'Kanchi Satya Digest' to contribute towards expenses like court fees, documentation work and photo copying of documents.

"If somebody collects funds how is the SIT concerned," the Judge asked adding that the defence complaint was that the prosecution has so much funds and the defence too needed funds to fight the cases.

"If you think the website is not authorised by the mutt to collect funds, there are other proceedings to be followed," he said.

The judge said a thought of posting all the mutt cases before another court was passing through his mind, as it may seem he was not being favourably disposed towards the Government if his orders went against the prosecution.