Notice to seer over auditor assault case

Justice R Subbiah, before whom the criminal appeal by the State came up, ordered notice returnable within two weeks. The State in its plea had contended that the trial court acquitting Jayendra and eight others was contrary to law, weight of evidence and probabilities of the case. 

The appeal also contended that the trial court ignored all aspects raised by the prosecution despite submitting several incriminating evidences e against the accused. 

The appeal pointed out that the trial court had committed a grave error in not considering the evidence of the three injured eye witnesses. 

It said the reasons assigned by the trial court for acquitting the accused were not correct and unassailable despite the prosecution proving the case against the accused beyond all reasonable doubt. 

On September 20, 2002, Radhakrishnan, a former associate of the Kanchi Mutt in Kancheepuram, was attacked with deadly weapons in which he and his wife were seriously injured. 

The Foreshore Estate police registered a case against Jayendra Saraswati and 11 others in connection with the attack. The charge sheet was filed in 2006 for offences including criminal conspiracy and attempt to murder. 

As per the prosecution, the gang had attacked Radhakrishnan assuming that he was writing letters in the name of ‘Somasekhara Ganapadigal’ highlighting irregularities in the Kanchi Mutt. During the pendency of trial, one of the accused, Ravi Subramaniam, turned hostile while Appu and Kathiravan died.

After a chequered trial lasting almost a decade, the First Additional Sessions Judge P Rajamanickam on April 29 last had acquitted the Kanchi Acharya and eight others.