The junior seer of the Kanchi Mutt, Vijayendra Saraswati, has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the arrest of Jayendra Saraswathi in a murder case.
"The swamiji is of the view that only a CBI probe can help get to the truth and ensure justice," former Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament from Mehaboobnagar A P Jithender Reddy said quoting the junior pontiff.
Vijayendra, who was present at the time of arrest of Jayendra Sarawathi at Mehaboobnagar town on November 11, has written a letter to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil demanding a CBI inquiry, Reddy told PTI in Hyderabad on Monday.
Since Shankara mutts are located across the country, only an investigation by a central agency can ensure justice, he said quoting the junior pontiff.
Though Vijayendra Saraswathi has been avoiding the media, he has been airing his views before the 'peetadhipatis' (heads of the mutts) who have been meeting him.
A senior official of the Vellore central jail, where the senior Shankaracharya is lodged, said the seer "is keeping normal health".
Jayendra's pulse rate was 90 per minute, while his blood pressure was 130/80 and his heart beat was also normal, jail superintendent Ramachandran, quoting doctors who examined the seer, said on Monday.
The Shankaracharya had ragi 'kanji' (gruel) with milk in the morning and curd rice for lunch. For dinner, he was taking either 'poories or chappatis', he said. The seer, a diabetic, was also regularly taking his medicines, he said.
Meanwhile, the advocates for the Mutt have said that they had no knowledge of any impending search in the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt in Kancheepuram.
Speculations have been rife that a search of the mutt will be conducted in connection with the murder case.
The advocates said that a notice would be issued to them if police planned to search the place.
They said that they would be provided an opportunity to be present if such a search were to take place. However, they have not received any such notice.
Meanwhile, police said two persons, accused in the assault of a former Mutt official two years ago, had been arrested and remanded in judicial custody on Sunday.
Police also went to the house of one Ramu, the official photographer of the Mutt, on Sunday night and took possession of some photo albums.
The officials remained tight-lipped on reports that the Mutt had sought Central protection for Vijayendra Saraswathi.
In another development, some Mutt officials complained the police and the public were harassing them. People belonging to certain political groups had also gathered in front of the Mutt and heckled those who went in and came out, they said in their complaint.
Meanwhile, protests by Hindu organisations against the arrest of the Shankaracharya are continuing. Hindu organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, staged protest demonstrations at several places in Ghaziabad, Noida, Meerut and adjoining areas.
Road and rail traffic were disrupted at various spots during the last 24 hours as the outfits took to the streets demanding the release of the seer. In Ghaziabad, effigies of Shivraj Patil were also burnt.
