Monday, February 14 2005 11:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kancheepuram: Alleging that two defence counsels of Kanchi Mutt had approached him to turn hostile, contractor Ravi Subramaniam who had turned approver after being accused in the Sankararaman murder case has sought protection for his life.

Ravi Subramaniam had filed a petition before the Judicial Magistrate-I G Uthamaraja on Feb 10 seeking police protection alleged that he faced threat to his life, police sources said yesterday (Feb 13, 2005).

Ravi had alleged in his petition, which was endorsed by jail Superintendent, that the two counsels for defence Revathi and Nazeera Banu visited him at the sub jail in Kancheepuram on Feb 1, Feb 3 and Feb 9 to persuade him to turn hostile by offering him money, the sources said.

Ravi also alleged they threatened him. He said that Banu approached him in the capacity as free legal aid society lawyer.

Dismissing the charges, defence counsel of the Mutt A Shanmugham said that it was highly impossible for any lawyer to approach a prisoner without authorisation from judicial authority or permission from Public prosecutor.

He said that the free legal aid society lawyers could not go to the cell where the prisoners are lodged. They could talk only in the presence of jail Superintendent, Shanmugham claimed.

It is all the more improbable in the case of Ravi Subramanin who was a highly safeguarded prisoner kept under tight watch.

'Anyway we are prepared for this eventuality,' Shanmugham said.

Police sources said that the summons might be sent to the lawyers today (Feb 14, 2005).