By IANS
Chennai : A sessions court here framed charges of attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy Monday against the Sankaracharya of Kanchi, Jayendra Saraswati, and 11 others for allegedly assaulting an auditor who had complained about misappropriation of temple funds.
The police said that G. Radhakrishnan, a resident of Chennai, was attacked at the instigation of the pontiff. Jayendra Sararswati and his associates have been accused of plotting to kill Radhakrishnan, an accountant and a former official of the Kanchi Mutt.
Radhakrishnan had complained of misappropriation of funds raised for a function held at the Sankara Mutt in Kanchipuram, a major Hindu religious establishment.
Radhakrishnan was attacked at his house in Chennai on Sep 20, 2002, allegedly by hired goons. His wife and two others were also injured.
First Additional Sessions Judge Mohamed Isath Ali decided to frame charges under the "attempt to murder" case.
Among those accused along with the pontiff are other Kanchipuram-based Sankara Mutt officials – manager Sundaresa Iyer, Raghu (brother of junior pontiff Vijayendra Saraswati), Appu, Kathiravan, Meenatchi Sundaram, Anand, Lakshmanan, Bhoominathan, Kannan, Kumar and Ravi Subramaniam, who has turned an approver.
A case had been registered in this connection and the charge-sheet filed in 2005.
The Sankaracharya was arrested in November 2004 in connection with this case and also for his alleged involvement in the murder of temple manager A. Sankaraman.
The seer was granted bail in both cases.
Monday, he was present in court, wearing a neck collar for support, and was asked by the judge if he had anything to say. He said he was innocent.
The case was adjourned to Aug 27.