Puducherry: Seven more prosecution witnesses
in the Sankararaman murder case, in which Kanchi seer Jayendra
Saraswathi and his junior Vijayendra Saraswathi are the prime
accused, turned hostile during trial on Thursday.
As trial resumed in the court of Principal District and
Sessions Judge D Krishnaraja, 10 witnesses were examined by
Public Prosecutor N Devadass regarding the murder of temple
manager Sankararaman in the Varadarajaperumal temple premises
at Kancheepuram on September 3, 2004.
The two seers have been charged under sections 120-B
(conspiracy) and 302 (murder) of IPC.
So far, 26 witnesses have turned hostile.
Only 17 of the 24 accused were present during the trial
today. The absentees included the two seers.
Devadoss later told reporters that the seven witnesses
were treated as hostile as they contradicted the statements
they had given earlier before the Kanchipuram police.
Among those turned hostile today included three women, he
said.
The Judge adjourned further hearing till tomorrow.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, February 11, 2010, 17:47