Thursday, January 27 2005 14:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chengalpattu (TN): The bail plea of Kanchi Mutt junior Pontiff Vijayendra Saraswathi was today (Jan 27, 2005) rejected by a Sessions court in Chengalpattu.

The Sessions Judge, Akbar Ali also rejected the bail pleas of the junior Pontiff's brother R Raghu and the Mutt Manager, Sundaresa Iyer.

On January 25, the judge had said that he would deliver his verdict on the bail pleas of Vijayendra Saraswathi, Raghu and Sundaresa Iyer today.

After hearing the arguments of the prosecution and defence counsel, the judge reserved his orders.

The defence counsel had argued that connecting the accused with the conspiracy to murder temple official Sankararaman had not been established by the prosecution. The motive for the conspiracy had not been shown by the prosecution, they contended.

Public prosecutor Duraiswami, who opposed the bail pleas, said the apex Court (SC) granting bail to Jayendra Saraswathi could not be binding in this case.

New facts had been unearthed on withdrawal and receipts of the Mutt's bank transactions, he said adding that the Supreme Court had been apprised of the Mutt's huge cash transactions.

'Several lakhs of Rupees had been withdrawn proximate to the date of murder,' he said.

There were ample records and documents as evidence of cash transactions by Vijayendra Saraswathi, Raghu and Sundaresa Iyer, he said.