The acquittal was a result of lack of proof of the motive and the conspiracy angle. Also, one of the main reasons that the court told was that there were many witnesses which turned hostile.

The trial took place for 9 years and the verdict was pronounced by Puducherry principal district and sessions judge CS Murugan.

The 78-year-old seer and his successor Swami Vijayendra Saraswathi, 44, were the prime accused.

On September 3 2004, Sankararaman, the manager of Sri Varadharajaswamy temple in Kancheepuram was murdered by an armed gang.

Sankararaman had levelled financial impropriety charges against the Shankaracharyas.

The Kanchi seers were charged with criminal conspiracy, misleading the court by giving false information, criminal trespass and supply of funds to carry out the criminal activity.