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CHENNAI, INDIA, November 13, 2004: Shankacharya of Kanchi Jayendra Saraswati will have to stay in lock up at least till Wednesday. The Madras High Court has adjourned the hearing of the bail application of Shankacharya till Wednesday. After the order, clashes broke out between Shankacharya supporters and Dravida Kazhgam movement (DK) workers. However, the police have now restored normalcy and brought the situation under control. Justice R. Balasubramaniam issued the order after the senior defence counsel from Delhi, Ram Jethmalani, sought time to file a detailed affidavit after meeting the seer. Jethmalani said the Shankaracharya was denied his fundamental right under Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution as he was not allowed to speak to his lawyers. The judge pointed out that the allegation was not mentioned in the bail application and gave the counsels of the Shankaracharya time to meet him. The court also directed the public prosecutor to accord all facilities to counsels for meeting the Shankaracharya. During the dramatic hearing the prosecution made a startling revelation. The lawyers have claimed that they had evidence that the Shankaracharya was planning to flee the country. But Jethmalani has said there are enough grounds to grant bail to Shankaracharya.



The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has announced a Tamil Nadu bandh and demonstrations in all state capitals in protest against what it calls the “politically motivated” arrest of the seer. VHP Leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore said that the seer had been arrested for political reasons and has been put in jail like an ordinary criminal. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today spoke to Home Minister Shivraj Patil and expressed concern for the security and safety of the Shankaracharya. BJP had yesterday expressed shock over the pontiff’s arrest and questioned the step and the “haste” with which it was taken.

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