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Web India, January 22, 2005

CHENNAI - The Tamil Nadu police Friday formally charged Shankaracharyas Jayendra Saraswathi and Vijayendra Saraswathi with the murder of a former temple official, setting the stage for their trial.

A day after one of the key accused agreed to turn an approver, police filed a charge sheet running into more than 1,800 pages in a Kanchipuram judicial magistrate's court.

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Web India

The Hindustan Times

VISHWA HINDU Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal has alleged that the real motive of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha was to capture the Kanchi Mutt, which had financial assets of over Rs 5,000 crore.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1204778,0015002100020000.htm

The Asian Age India
By Balbir K. Punj

The edifice of Kanchi Kamakoti Peeth, with strands of history, culture, tradition and spirituality woven into a tapestry spanning over 2,500 years, is sought to be demolished through the instrument of a "secular state" and the abetment by a section of the "secularists." While this vandalism reminiscent of blasting the Bamiyan Buddha is on, the self-proclaimed defenders of human rights and the "secular" parties, are conspicuous by their eloquent silence.

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http://www.iht.com/getina/files/219009.html

By Janyala Sreenivas
The Indian Express, Thursday, January 13, 2005

The senior Shankaracharya was yet to be released when his junior, Vijendra Saraswati, who had performed the puja in his absence, was taken into custody. Said Sankaran, the Kanchi Mutt spokesman: ‘‘Usually the puja is performed in the morning, noon and evening. The idols are carried along if the Shankaracharya is travelling and he performs the pooja wherever possible. The three pujas can can be done at one go if it is not possible to do so in sessions.’’

On Tuesday, the idols were rushed to Kalavai where Jayendra Saraswati performed three marathon pujas at one go. ‘‘The 2,500-old tradition has been kept alive,’’ said the spokesman.

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http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=62611

Monday, January 10, 2005

NEW DELHI - Chennai, Jan 10 : Vijayendra Saraswathi, the junior Shankaracharya of the Kanchipuram mutt, was arrested in Tamil Nadu Monday for alleged links to the murder of a temple official, hours after the Supreme Court ordered the release of his senior on bail.

A posse of Tamil Nadu policemen suddenly swooped on the mutt, or monastery, at Kanchipuram, about 70 km from here, at 5 p.m. and presented an arrest warrant to the religious leader.

As hundreds gathered in and outside the mutt to watch the dramatic arrest, the Shankaracharya was led away to the Kanchipuram court.

He was charged with being an accomplice in the murder of Kanchipuram temple official A. Sankararaman in September last year.

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http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=58133

New Kerala, January 10, 2005

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court Monday finally granted bail to Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, who has been in a Tamil Nadu jail since Nov 11 on charges of ordering the murder of a detractor.

But the apex court told the pontiff not to visit his mutt, or monastery, at Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu until investigations into the murder of A. Sankararaman were complete and to surrender his passport to the authorities.

Full story:

http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=58096