Shankaracharya’s Bail Plea Hearing Adjourned Till Nov. 17

Email this page Print this page

Jethmalani said the Shankaracharya was denied his fundamental rights under Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution, as he was not allowed to speak to his lawyers.

The judge pointed out that the allegation was not mentioned in the bail application and gave Shankaracharya's counsels time to meet him.

The court also directed public prosecutor Duraisamy to provide the counsels access to the Shankaracharya.

Earlier on Friday the Shankaracharya was on Friday remanded in judicial custody at Vellore Prison till November 26.

He was produced before judicial first class magistrate G Uttamaraj in Kancheepuram, 70 km from Chennai, on Friday morning.

The Shankaracharya, who has been accused by the opposition parties in Tamil Nadu of having considerable clout with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government, was brought by road to Kancheepuram, the seat of the Pontiff.

During the hour-long proceeding, the magistrate ordered the remand and told Shankaracharya's counsel Y Thiyagarajan that the jail authorities would decide on the medical treatment for the pontiff, since he claimed he was an insulin-dependent diabetic patient.

The arrest of the politically-famous Shankaracharya, who in the last two years had acted as a mediator in the Ayodhya issue between Sangh parivar and Muslim organisations, followed investigation into the murder of Sankararaman, who had managed the accounts of the Mutt during late Paramacharya Chandrasekerendra Saraswthi's period.

Sankararaman was reported to have had differences with Jayendra Saraswathi and had left the Mutt and worked as the manager of the famous Vaishnavite Varadharajaperumal temple here, where he was murdered on September 3 last.

BJP Angry: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said the criminal case against Shankaracharya has been foisted on him.

"From the information available, it is understood that it is a criminal case that has been foisted on him. But, I am sure justice will prevail," BJP Secretary L Ganesan said in Chennai.

However, he said he did not see any political motive behind the arrest. "There may be some pressure from some political parties that are known for their adverse attitude towards the Shankaracharya and the Kanchi Mutt. But the case is not a political case. The Tamil Nadu government's action is not politically motivated," he said.

As the arrest is neither politically nor religiously motivated, the party will consider the strategy to be adopted. "We have to assess the situation. We want to know what exactly the charges are. And only after that can we decide on our reaction."