Thursday, March 31 2005 22:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kancheepuram: The chargesheet in the Sankararaman murder case, copies of which were handed over today (March 31, 2005) to 24 accused, including the Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi and his Junior Vijayendra Saraswathi, says that "in pursuance of conspiracy to eliminate Sankararaman each one did their best as per the needs and circumstances prevailing."

Describing the September 3 last murder of Sankararaman, an official of Varadharaja Perumal Temple, as 'brutal and cold blooded', the 1873 page chargesheet said the Shankaracharya and the junior Seer were "infuriated" over the series of letters written by Sankararaman questioning the manner in which the Mutt was being administered by them.

The attack on the character and conduct of Senior Pontiff and Vijayendra Saraswathi had created deep animosity against Sankararaman to the extent of annihilating him, the chargesheet said.

It said the Seer and his junior had met other accused, including accused-turned-approver Ravi Subramaniam, on several occasions at Chennai and Kancheepuram prior to the murder.

Following Sankararaman's final notice to Jayendra and Vijayendra threatening them of serious consequences, a final decision was taken on September 1 last, two days before the murder, to eliminate the temple official.

The chargesheet said a confession by Jayendra Saraswathi, the "prime accused and the main instrument in causing the death of Sankararaman," on November 21 while in police custody led to the recovery of four letters written by the deceased under the name of Somesekaraganapadigal.

Regarding the junior seer, it said Vijayendra Saraswathi had "also taken an active part in the conspiracy hatched to eliminate Sankararaman."

On the role played by R Raghu, the junior seer's brother, the chargesheet said the co-accused, "took part in the conspiracy at the Sankara Mutt."

He was arrested on January 30 and "certain incriminating documents such as requisition letters for conversion of demand draft were recovered based on his confession," the chargesheet said.

Following Ravi Subramaniam's arrest on December 26 at Guruvayur in Kerala, "incriminating" documents such as two money receipts for Rs six lakh and Rs 20 lakh were recovered.

The chargesheet said Mutt manager Sundaresan played a vital role 'in disbursement of hireling amount to the approver Ravi Subramaniam to execute the common design of conspiracy."

On November 17 last Ambi alias Ambikapathy, who is the actual assailant, had surrendered before a court and while in police custody on November 25, a knife with blood stains used in the murder of Sankararaman and a blue shirt were recovered from his house, it said.

It said interrogation of several accused, coupled with other material collected during investigation clearly established that Kumar and Anand alias Anandakumar had actually participated in murdering Sankararaman.

A cell phone, some cash, a motorcycle and a knife used in the commission of the murder were recovered following Anand's confession, the chargesheet said.