Chennai: The prosecution in the Sankararaman murder case today (Nov 29, 2004) came out with a stunning claim that the Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi, the main accused in the case, had "confessed to his involvement" in the murder.

Spotlight: Kanchi Jayendra Saraswathi's Arrest

Opposing the second bail application filed by the Seer in the Madras High Court, Senior Supreme Court lawyer K T S Tulsi told the court that the Shankaracharya had "broken down" during interrogation and "confessed to his involvement" in the murder of temple official Sankararaman on Sep 3, 2004 last.

The Seer was arrested in connection with the murder at Mahbubnagar in Andhra Pradesh on Nov 11, 2004.

On Nov 20, 2004 the High Court had rejected the Acharya's plea for bail.

Tulsi alleged that the Seer, during interrogation, had said that on Sep 1, 2004 he (Seer) had called Appu alias Krishnasamy, Ravi Subramaniam and Kathiravan and told them that Sankararaman had been "tormenting" him and that he should be got rid of at any cost.

The part of the Seer's "confession", recorded in Tamil, was read out in the court by Tamil Nadu Public Prosecutor K Doraisamy.

Submitting that the Seer had admitted to having talked to some accused in the murder case before and after the murder took place, Tulsi said the Shankaracharya had also informed his interrogators that the mobile phone from where calls had been made was for his exclusive use.

Arguments on the bail plea will continue tomorrow (Nov 30, 2004).