15.6.2012 (UNI) Puducherry Principal District and Sessions Judge C S Murugan today posted the Sankararaman murder case, in which Kanchi acharyas Jayendra Saraswathi and Vijayendra Saraswathi are prime accused, to June 22 for further hearing.

Nine of the 24 accused, including the acharyas, failed to turn up before the court when the case was taken up.

The judge adjourned the case to June 22 as Mr Manikanda Varadhan, counsel for Padma, wife of slain Sankararaman, was absent today also.

Mr Manikanda Varadhan had filed a petition on behalf of Padma seeking re-examination of her and her family here and in Chennai. The Madras High Court had directed the Puducherry court to dispose Padma's petition and proceed with the main case and the case was slated for June 13 here.

However, Mr Manikanda Vardhan failed to turn up and the court was informed that he was down with viral fever and had sought a ten-day adjournment.

The judge then posted the case for today. As Manikanda Varadhan did not turn up, Anand Sharma, the son of Sankararaman along with Padma, produced medical certificate for Manikanda Varadhan and filed a fresh petition seeking adjournment of the case, following which the judge posted the case to June 22 and ordered that Manikanda Varadhan be present on that day without fail. UNI