Jains divided over condemning accused

The same day, however, Dr Shirmuni Maharaj, a Jain priest currently camping at Mahavir Bhavan for the `chaturmas’, came out with a statement that “Jains may at times commit white-collar crimes but for them, murder is something unthinkable.” The statement surprised many as it came from a Jain muni — who is not expected to interfere in worldly matters.

The contradictory behaviourshows that the Jain leadership is finding it difficult to come to terms with the fact that some of its own people were responsible for the dirty work. After all, the Jain leaders had been quick to call for a bandh to condemn the muni’s murder. They had even made a vociferous demand for a CID enquiry, and later complained about the “unusually” long time the police were taking to nab the assailants.But before anyone had a chance to dwell on the nitty-gritties of the murder, the focus shifted towards financial mismanagement in Gurganesh Sthanak Wasi Jain Trust, of which the accused were office-bearers.

Opinion makers within the Jain community feel that if a genuine sympathy wave emerges for the accused, there are enough big men around `to influence and control the case’.

But then, that is hardly likely to be the case. For starters, the Jain muni had a very `different’ image. Few Jains ever took his darshan. And his alleged closeness to certain female devotees was frowned upon. Besides, police are on recordsaying that the muni had total control over financial matters of the trust something that totally goes against Jain tenets. In fact, a section of Jains is already working towards garnering support for the accused and a meeting may soon be called to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, sources in the Jain community say police could have seized more money from the Guruganesh Nagar premises and not just Rs 7 lakh as declared earlier.