New Delhi: More than a month after his arrest by Tamil Nadu Police in the Sankararaman murder case, Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati today (Dec 14, 2004) filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking bail.

Advocate Krishna Jumar, who had obtained the Seer's thumb impression on a document authorising him approach the Apex Court, said a petition was today filed in the apex Court by the Sankaracharya challenging the Madras High Court order of December 8 refusing bail to him.

Meanwhile, a Bench comprising Justice N Santosh Hegde and Justice S B Sinha dismissed two writ petitions filed by some unknown persons in public interest seeking relief for the religious leader.

While one petition sought release of the Shankaracharya on bail, the other said that the investigation should be transferred to an independent agency like CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) as the Tamil Nadu police have been making wild allegations against him, which has hurt the sentiments of the Hindus at large.

The Bench was firm in dismissing the petitions and observed that when they did not have the authorisation from the person aggrieved by the refusal of bail, how could they file such petitions.

"If the person aggrieved by the High Court order chooses not to file an appeal, then who are you to file such a petition," the Court asked both the petitioners.