The Hindu : `Kill plot' in Adheenam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 13, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

`Kill plot' in Adheenam

By Our Staff Reporter

MAYILADUTURAI July 12. The case of the mysterious presence last Sunday night of unidentified persons on the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam premises took a turn today, with the police suspecting the involvement of the junior Adheenam in the incident.

Preliminary inquiries reveal that the unidentified persons were engaged by two employees of the mutt to kill the senior Adheenam, Sivaprakasa Desikar, on July 7, the Superintendent of Police, N. Meenakshisundaram, told reporters here.

Five persons--Swaminathan and Thiagarajan, mutt employees and supporters of the junior Adheenam, Thiagarajan's relative Sivakumar of Sivaprani village, Thamizhselvam of Sooriyanarkoil and Sakthivel of Pudukottai, who had led the group of unidentified persons--were arrested yesterday.

Interrogation of Swaminathan, Thiagarajan and Thamizhselvam revealed that they were affected by a misunderstanding and power struggle between two important persons in the mutt and hence they planned to eliminate the senior with the help of Sivakumar.

For carrying out the killing, Swaminathan and Thiagarajan received Rs.15,000 from the junior Adheenam, Kasiviswanatha Pandara Sannadhi, the SP said.

Last Sunday evening, the mercenaries arrived at the mutt in the guise of disciples and were taken to the junior Adheenam's room by Swaminathan and Thiagarajan. Later, they were guided to the rest room of Sivaprakasa Desikar, where they were spotted by Varadarajan, personal bodyguard of the senior.

Meanwhile, Kasiviswanatha Pandara Sannadhi attempted to commit suicide on the night of July 9, taking an overdose of sleeping pills. The junior Adheenam had drafted a letter, addressed to Sivaprakasa Desikar, stating he might be implicated in the case and hence he decided to commit suicide, Mr. Meenakshisundaram said.

Asked whether Sivaprakasa Desikar made any formal complaint against his junior during interrogation, the SP said the Adheenam was dazed and was not able to come to terms with what happened that day.

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