Mutt seeks CBI probe into arrest of seer

In the first clear indication of a serious falling out between the J Jayalalitha-led AIADMK government and the Kanchi mutt, the junior seer of the mutt has written to Home Minister Shivraj Patil and sought central government's protection for the Shankaracharya, lodged in the Vellore jail.

Virtually implying that the security forces of the state government were out to get the Shankaracharya, Vijayendra Saraswathi sought a CBI probe into the Shankaracharya's arrest.

"The swamiji is of the view that only a CBI probe can help get to the truth and ensure justice," former BJP MP from Mahabubnagar Jithender Reddy said, quoting the junior pontiff.

Vijayendra, who was present when the Kanchi Shankaracharya was arrested at Mahabubnagar town, has asked Patil to refer the case to the CBI.

He said that since Shankara mutts were located across the country and only an investigation by a central agency could ensure justice. Vijayendra is camping at Mahabubnagar to perform a "trikala yagam".

The Tamil Nadu police had on Sunday sought police custody of Jayendra Saraswathi so that the police did not have to go to court each time they wanted to interrogate him. It was unlikely that any legal moves would be made before November 17, when the Shankaracharya's plea for bail would be heard by the high court.

The Shankaracharya's lawyers have skipped one level "" instead of approaching the sessions court, they have moved the high court.

There is pressure on them to go to the Supreme Court but the apex court is unlikely to allow their appeal while the case is being heard in the high court.

The Tamil Nadu government has deployed extra police force fearing clashes between pro-Hindutva groups, like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and activists of rationalist organisations like the Dravida Kazhagam.

Significantly, apart from the VHP, the other frontal organisations of the RSS, including the BJP, are protesting at the arrest on humanitarian grounds, rather than on legal grounds.

The RSS has so far issued just one appeal, calling for the Shankaracharya's release.

The VHP had said that if the Shankaracharya was not released by Tuesday, the outfit would launch a countrywide agitation.

In the RSS, there is a perceptible lack of excitement over the arrest and patience is being counselled, possibly because the Hindu organisations want to get their facts right before they launch an agitation that may become difficult to control later.