Co-Accused Testifies Against Kanchi Shankaracharya

Source

KANCHEEPURAM, INDIA, January 20, 2005: (HPI note: In granting the senior Shankaracharya bail, the India Supreme Court specifically said the testimony of co-accused in a case was not of much value unless supported by independent evidence, which they concluded did not yet exist in convincing form in this case.)

The Tamil Nadu police investigating the Shankaraman murder case today received a big shot in the arm. Ravi Subramaniam, a key accused in the case has turned approver (that is, will testify for the prosecution in hopes of reduced sentence) and is said to have implicated both the Kanchi seers in the murder conspiracy. According to sources, Ravi Subramaniam has given the Chengalpet Court details of the motive for the murder. He has also revealed details of how the two seers hatched the conspiracy to eliminate Shankaraman. The Kanchi Mutt has not reacted to what the police say is a big breakthrough. Police sources however, claim it was the confessional statement of Ravi Subramaniam before the Kancheepuram Magistrate that led to the arrest of the junior pontiff, Vijayendra Saraswati. For turning approver, the building contractor may hope to receive some kind of pardon from the courts but his version of the crime will have to be corroborated by other evidence that will come up during the trial.