Monday, January 31 2005 18:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Tamil Nadu police today (Jan 31, 2005) justified freezing of Kanchi Mutt accounts in various banks stating that it was "absolutely essential" as there was material to substantiate that money withdrawn was used to tamper with investigations.

"If the petitioner is allowed to operate these accounts, he will withdraw huge amounts of money and utilise the same for tampering with evidence," police said in a counter-affidavit in response to a petition filed by a Mutt manager Mahadhevan seeking a direction to police to allow operation of accounts in various banks frozen by police.

The affidavit said unless the investigation was completed in the remaining cases it would not be possible to ascertain the manner and to the extent to which the funds were utilised for illegal purposes.

When the petition came up for hearing today, State public prosecutor K Doraisamy informed the court that Mutt bank accounts were involved in four cases: Murder case, Radhakrishnan assault case, Tirukoshtiyur madhavan assault case and a case pertaining to tampering with records of Mutt accounts.

"Therefore freezing of accounts is absolutely essential to unearth the truth," the public prosecutor said.

Justice K P Sivasubramaniam posted the petition for tomorrow (Feb 1, 2005) with a direction to Doraisamy to furnish details about the cases involving the Mutt bank accounts.