Thursday, June 16 2005 16:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kancheepuram: A Sessions Court today (Jun 16, 2005) adjourned hearing in the Sankararaman murder case, in which the Kanchi Seers Jayendra Saraswathi and Vijayendra Saraswathi are the main accused, to July 12.

Adjourning the case, the Chengalpattu Sessions Judge M G Akbar Ali said charges will be framed on that day.

Both Jayendra and Vijayendra, who had secured bail in the case, were present in the court when the trial began. Of the 24 accused, Raghu, brother of the Junior Acharya, and Kanchi Mutt manager Sundaresa Iyer, who had been granted bail recently in the case, were not present.

The Government prosecutor said they should be issued fresh warrants. But Karthikeyan, counsel for Raghu and Sundaresa Iyer, filed petitions seeking to dispense with their appearance, stating that they had to be at Coimbatore and Villupuram respectively to sign the register twice a day in compliance with their bail conditions.

The judge then asked the defence counsel and prosecution to consult the High Court about liberties with regard to the court attendance and condoned the absence.

When all the accused and lawyers were present, Palani and Kuruvi Ravi submitted that their lawyer was in Chennai.