Monday, January 17 2005 20:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) international vice-president S Vedantham today (Jan 17, 2005) filed a petition in Madras High Court, seeking to quash two summons issued to him last week by the Tamil Nadu police for his appearance in connection with the Sankararaman murder case.

Alleging that the summons under sections 160 CrPC and 161 CrPc, for his appearance and examination were issued with ulterior motive, Vedantham claimed that they were without jurisdiction as he resided outside the limits of Vishnu Kanchi police station in Kancheepuram.

Section 160 CrPC empowered the police officer to summon anyone residing within the jurisdiction of the respective police station or any adjoining station, he claimed.

He contended that there were absolutely no grounds available for the respondent police to issue summons to him, as he was not aware of the facts and circumstances of the case.

Vedantham said that on January 12, at about 7.30 AM, he was served summons to appear before the SIT, investigating the murder case, at 11.00 AM the same day to give information regarding the murder case. He said the next day he had left for Bangalore and another summons was sent to his office there.

Vedantham said he had immediately, through his lawyer, stated his reason for not receiving the summons and told the police that issue of summons was not in accordance with law. He said that he had, however, said he would cooperate with the investigation.

He claimed that when the summons under section 160 CrPC itself was inadmissible in law, then section 161 CrPC could not be used for requiring the attendance of any witness. The section did not, however, prevent a police officer from examining a person in the place where he was available.

He alleged that the investigation was changing track with the intention of harassing well-wishers and devotees and indirectly warning them to refrain from extending sympathy and moral support to the Kanchi Mutt.

Senior Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi and junior Seer Vijayendra are among several arrested in connection with the September 3 last murder of a Mutt associate, Sankararaman.