Monday, December 26 2005 19:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Nagapattinam: Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi today (Dec 26,2005) surrendered before a court near here and was released on bail in a 'theft case', as per a direction of the Madras High Court which granted him anticipatory bail on December 20.

The Seer surrendered before Mannargudy Judicial Magistrate in the case pertaining to the theft at the Periyakudi Shiva temple in the taluk on November 12, 2005.

He was granted bail on furnishing two sureties of Rs 5,000 each.

Earlier granting an anticipatory bail, Justice Sardar Zackria Husain of Madras High Court had directed that in the event of an arrest, Seer should be released on furnishing a bond for Rs 5,000 each and two sureties for a similar amount or they should surrender before Mannargudy Judicial Magistrate court within 15-days, failing which their anticipatory bail would stand cancelled.

On Dec 15, the Seer and the others named in the complaint, lodged by an employee of the temple, one Suresh alias Krishnan, had filed anticipatory bail petitions.

On the same night, the Judge had restrained the Tamil Nadu police from arresting him till December 20.

The complainant had sought action under IPC sections 379 (theft) and 380 (theft in a dwelling house).

As per the case filed at the Kottur police station in Tiruvarur, it was alleged that on November 12, 2005, the Seer had gone to the Periyakudi Siva temple with some aides, who, on his instruction, removed valuable jewels buried under the 'peetam' (pedestal) of the idol and the idol itself.