Seven more prosecution witnesses in the Sankararaman murder case, in which Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi and his junior Vijayendra Saraswathi are the prime accused, turned hostile during trial on Thursday.
As trial resumed in the court of Principal District and Sessions Judge D Krishnaraja, 10 witnesses were examined by Public Prosecutor N Devadass regarding the murder of temple manager Sankararaman in the Varadarajaperumal temple premises at Kancheepuram on September 3, 2004.
The two seers have been charged under sections 120-B (conspiracy) and 302 (murder) of IPC.
So far, 26 witnesses have turned hostile.
Only 17 of the 24 accused were present during the trial today. The absentees included the two seers.
Devadoss later told reporters that the seven witnesses were treated as hostile as they contradicted the statements they had given earlier before the Kanchipuram police.
Among those turned hostile today included three women, he said.
The Judge adjourned further hearing till Friday.