A court in Chennai has directed Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi to appear before it on March 28 in auditor Radhakrishnan assault case, in which he is the prime accused, to answer charges framed against him.
First Additional Sessions Judge P Rajamanickam has also ordered other accused, including Kanchi Sankara Mutt Manager Sundaresa Iyer and junior pontiff Vijayendra Saraswati's brother Raghu to appear on the same day to answer questions under Section 313 of CrPc.
According to the prosecution, former auditor of the mutt S Radhakrishnan was allegedly assaulted by a gang in his home in Chennai on September 20, 2002.
Police had registered a case against 12 persons, including Jayendra Saraswati, and the charge sheet was filed in 2006 for offences including criminal conspiracy and attempt to murder.
The gang had attacked Radhakrishnan assuming that he was writing letters in the pseudo name of Somasekhara Ghanapadigal highlighting the alleged 'irregularities' in the mutt.
"Examination of 55 witnesses by the prosecution has been completed in the case," Special Public Prosecutor N Vijayaraj told PTI.
Two of the accused Appu and Kathiravan have died during the pendency of the case. Ravi Subramaniam, an approver and key witness, has turned hostile.