Seer case: Wanted woman meets cops, is a cancer patient

Author: PTI
Publication: The New Indian Express

Usha, a woman from Srirangam, wanted by police for interrogation in connection with the Sankararaman murder case, in which Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi was arrested, on Tuesday "presented herself" before the police here.

Sudha Ramalingam and Arivu Nidhi, the two advocates representing her, told newsmen that Usha was not "hiding or absconding" as was made out by the prosecution on Monday and "she is very much available here for any inquiry."

The advocates said Usha was a cancer patient and she was a beneficiary of Kanchi mutt's "generous help."

"She (Usha) is not absconding or hiding and she had presented herself before the police here for any inquiry," the advocates told newsmen in Usha's presence.

During the hearing of the bail plea of the seer, the prosecution had told the Madras High Court on Monday that the pontiff had extensive telephonic conversations with Usha at Srirangam.

"We wanted to interrogate her but she had made herself scarce and is absconding," Tulsi, senior Supreme Court lawyer, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, had said.

In the counter-affidavit, police had contended that the conversation between the seer and Usha used to last even for 900 pulse units. The woman was provided with free quarters and large amount of money was periodically transferred to her through bank transactions.

"Her involvement in the conspiracy and other allied matters were being probed since the seer regularly spoke to her before and after the murder," police had contended.

Usha drove from Chennai to the district police office here and appeared before the additional superintendent of police, Bhuvaneshwari.

Sudha Ramalingam said since Usha heard the TV news last night saying that she was absconding, she chose to present herself before the police on Tuesday.

Sudha said this was not a "surrender. She is only presenting herself. Usha is blameless and there is no case on her now."

Sudha said "Usha has been suffering from many ailments from the time she was 20 years old and she was now suffering from breast cancer."

She had to undergo many sittings of chemotherapy and had to be hospitalised several times. It was her husband, Narayanan, who had approached the Kanchi acharya for medical help. Narayanan "went broke" in business and following heavy debts, he deserted Usha. The medical expenses were met because of the help from the mutt and from Usha's relatives, Sudha said adding that the police had visited her house in Srirangam, near Tiruchirappalli, and made enquiries there on october 12.

The police did not find it necessary to make any further investigations, but the house owners became uneasy about it and Usha had to vacate the house. She has been staying with her relatives in Chennai all these days, Sudha said.

Usha's brother, Jagannathan, who was also present during the press conference, said at one stage, Usha went to the extent of committing suicide because of her ill-health and lack of means to meet the expenses.

"It was then that she received help as well as solace from the Kanchi acharya," Jagannathan said adding that Usha did not reside in Kanchi mutt but contacted the mutt only through phone.

"It is extremely uncivilised to adduce any pervert or sexual overtones to this," Sudha said.