Seer moves SC pleading transfer of case outside TN

Kanchi Sankaracharya apprehending that he would not get a fair trial as the state chief minister was showing 'undue interest' in it.

Nearly three months after getting bail in the Sankararaman murder case, Kanchi Sankaracharya has moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the trial outside Tamil Nadu apprehending that he would not get a fair trial as the Chief Minister was showing "undue interest" in it.

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Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, who was granted bail by the apex Court on January 10 this year, said the atmosphere in the state was "not conducive for a fair trial" in the case as the prosecution appeared to be "under the influence" of the Government headed by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Citing an instance of unnecessary harassment, the Seer alleged that the police, which filed the chargesheet against him in the case on January 21, gave him a copy thereof after nearly three months.

Moreover, the investigating officers in the case have been handpicked by the Chief Minister, who had given statements that would prejudice the prosecution from presenting the case fairly before the trial court.

After exactly two months in jail and unsuccessful attempts before Madras High Court, the Kanchi seer was ordered to be released on bail in the Sankararaman murder case on January 10 by the Supreme Court, which castigated Tamil Nadu police for having gathered "no evidence or material" against him.

The police on January 21 chargesheeted both Kanchi Sankaracharyas Jayendra and Vijayendra Saraswathi for allegedly conspiring to murder Sankararaman, Manager of the Varadarajaperumal temple here on September 3, 2004.