Tuesday, July 12 2005 14:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chengalpattu (TN): Framing of charges in the sensational Sankararaman Murder Case, in which Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi and Junior Seer Vijayendra Saraswathi are the prime accused, did not take place today (July 12, 2005) due to the ongoing boycott of courts by advocates.

"In view of the boycott of courts by advocates, the case is being adjourned to July 25", Principal District Judge G M Akbar Ali, said.

When the court commenced its sitting for the day, counsel for the Seer filed a petition seeking to defer framing of charges on the ground that a petition filed by the Seer for transferring the case to a court outside Tamil Nadu was pending in the Supreme Court.

On June 16 (Friday) when the case came up for hearing and the Seer's counsel had pointed out about the petition pending in the Apex Court, the Judge had told him to file a petition in this connection today.

An accused Kuruvi Ravi also filed a petition seeking discharge from the case. Both the petitions would be heard when the court sits on July 25.All the accused were present in the court today.

On June 16 last, the Judge had fixed today for framing of charges against the two seers and 22 others, besides the accused-turned-approver Ravi Subramaniam.

Copies of the 1873-page chargesheet, pertaining to the 'brutal and cold blooded murder' of Sankararaman, an official of Varadharaja Perumal Temple on September three last, filed on January 21 were furnished to the accused on March 31. The charges, which include Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 302 (murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 108 (abetment) could attract sentences ranging from three years R.I. to capital punishment.

Besides the two seers and Ravi Subramaniam, other accused are Kanchi Mutt Manager Sundaresa Iyer, Raghu, younger brother of Vijayendra Saraswathi, Appu alias Kathiravan, Rajiv alias Chinna, K S Kumar, Ananthakumar, Mattu Bhaskar, Silverstar alias Stalin, Anil alias Anil Kumar, Ambi alias Ambikapathy, Palani, Kuruvi Ravi, Sekar, Senthilkumar, Arumugham, Meenakshisundaram, Arumugam, Dil Pandiyan, Satish, Devarajan and Arun.