Thursday, April 7 2005 21:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kancheepuram: Ravi Subramaniam, accused-turned-approver in the Sankararaman murder case, today (Apr 7, 2005) said in a magistrate court that he was the "go between" in the murder case and the Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi had "personally" given him Rs five lakh for the job.

Ravi Subramaniam was being examined by the prosecution. The money was given to him by Jayendra on the completion of the job of the September 3, 2004 murder of Sankararaman, the then Manager of Sri Varadharajaswamy Perumal temple in Kancheepuram.

Deposing before the Judicial First Class Magistrate G Uthamaraj, amidst objection from the defence counsel, Ravi Subramanian said that he had known the seer since 1994.

He told the court that he had been given Rs one lakh prior to the murder.

Ravi Subramaniam asked the magistrate whether he could depose in his own way or whether he was required to adhere strictly to the narration that he had recorded in his statement, which he had given under section 164 Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) (recording of confessions and statements). The magistrate told him to tell whatever he knew.

Later, the Magistrate fixed April 11 for cross -examination by the defence.