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Journalism of Courage
Even as the brother of the junior pontiff of Kanchi math was called in for questioning today, policemen interrogating the Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati hit the wall. Police sources say the seer has ignored all attempts to get him to talk. ‘‘He has kept mum to all queries concerning the case as of today noon,’’ they said.
The seer, accused in the murder of a local temple manager, is being interrogated at the women’s police station located in the office complex of the Superintendent of Police, Kanchipuram.
An office room with an attached toilet has been cleared out for the seer’s stay. He has been given a mat and blanket, a chair, a table, and provisions for his daily puja rituals. The police have sealed off all entry points to the heavily-guarded complex.
The interrogation is being led by SPs Varadarajan and S. Davidson of Tiruvalluvar and Kanchipuram districts respectively. The investigating officer in the case, ADSP Shaktivel of Kanchipuram, is assisting them.
Sources said food for the Shankaracharya is being prepared by the cook of the Kanchipuram SP, who is a Brahmin as required by Math tradition. Jayendra Saraswati had asked the police to fetch him some apples yesterday and ate a couple, and later had porridge for dinner. He had rotis for breakfast.
Briefing the media this morning, Kanchi Math’s manager N. Sundareshan Iyer, who has already been interrogated, asserted that the case is clearly a ‘‘fabrication’’ at ‘‘someone’s’’ behest.
He said the Shankaracharya appeared fine in police custody and that a doctor and his lawyer were visiting him daily. ‘‘There has been no torture. He looks alright,’’ Iyer said, adding that there was some problem with the food being served to the seer.
In the math, junior pontiff Vijayendra Saraswati has taken over all puja and organisation-related activities, Iyer said.
In a significant move, the police today summoned the brother of Vijayendra Saraswati for interrogation. The man, Raghu, was in the police station till late evening and the police refused to confirm if he has been arrested. Raghu has been closely involved in the math’s management.
The Math management said they may move the SC to secure bail for Jayendra Sarasawati, as the Madras HC rejected the bail plea today.
