Kancheepuram (TN): Dismissing as "baseless" the charges against Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, arrested last night (Nov 11, 2004) in connection with a murder, his counsel today (Nov 12) alleged that the action was "politically vindictive".

"The mutt is no way connected with the incident (murder). The charges are baseless and based on the confession by third party. We will seek redressal in law," advocate Y Thiyagarajan told reporters soon after the Acharya was remanded to 15 days judicial custody by a magistrate in Kancheepuram this morning.

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"Some vested interests and political parties had threatened an agitation. That is why he has been arrested," he said indirectly referring to the proposed agitation by DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam).

The Shankaracharya was arrested by Tamil Nadu police at Mehboobnagar in Andhra Pradesh as one of the prime accused in a case relating to murder of Sankararaman, manager of Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kancheepuram on Sep 3, 2004.

Thiyagarajan said the Shankaracharya had pleaded with the magistrate for medical treatment as he was 70 and an insulin dependent diabetic. However, the magistrate said jail authorities would decide on the nature of medical treatment.

The Shankaracharya did not speak to reporters.