Puducherry, Dec 18 (IANS) The two Kanchi Shankaracharyas and 52 others were here Thursday handed over copies of chargesheets against them in the Shankararaman murder case. Special Sessions Judge Krishnaraja charged the senior pontiff Jayendra Saraswati, and Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati, the junior seer with conspiracy to murder, its funding and abetment.

Twelve others were charged with the actual crime.

Jayendra Saraswati and Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati are both prime accused in the case.

Shankararaman, managing trustee of the Lord Varadaraja Perumal temple at Kancheepuram, was murdered Sep 3, 2004, allegedly at the behest of the accused.