Chennai: Tamil Nadu police was having 'shocking but solid' information on the links of Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswati with the murderers of Sankararaman, a temple official at Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa told the State Assembly today (Nov 17, 2004).

Breaking her silence on the arrest by making a suo motu statement, the first one by her after the arrest of the Seer on November 11, Jayalalithaa said her Government had proved by the arrest that 'everybody is equal before the law'.

Spotlight: Kanchi Jayendra Saraswathi's Arrest

She said on the information provided by two persons nabbed by the police at Chennai on November 9 and articles seized from them, the police got 'vital' information about the Swamiji's link with the associates engaged to murder the temple official, she said.

He had also links in drawing huge money from the Mutt's bank account and handing it over to the hirelings, she said adding that he is also linked with the surrender of five people, who did not have any connection with the murder, only to sidetrack the investigation.

Those who committed the murder had spoken to Jayendra over telephone, she said.

Stoutly denying the charge of BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Murli Manohar Joshi and NDA (National Democratic Alliance) convenor George Fernandes of violation of laws in effecting the arrest of the Seer, Jayalalithaa said all legal formalities were observed right from his arrest till he was lodged at the central Prison at Vellore.