Sulvadi: Judicial custody of accused extended

The suspects in the prasada poisoning case at Sulvadi Maramma temple in Hanur taluk were produced before the court on Thursday. The court has extended the judicial custody of the four accused to January 16.

The suspects - Immadi Mahadevaswamy, Ambika, Madesha and Doddaiah - were brought to the court here at 11.45 am. When the judge asked them whether any lawyer was appearing for them, Mahadevaswamy replied said there is no lawyer to defend them. Senior civil judge S J Krishna, who conducted the trial, extended the judicial custody for 14 days and postponed the case to January 16. The police brought back the suspects to the central prisons in Mysuru, where they were housed earlier.

Mahadevaswamy, junior pontiff of Salur Mutt, Male Mahadeshwara Swami Hill, was without his saffron robes and was wearing white clothes.

Police security was stepped up on the court premises, when the suspects were produced before the judge. ASP Geetha Prasanna, DySP Puttamadaiah and around 200 police personnel were present. Bar Association secretary Basavaraju said c had disrespected the court by wearing footwear into the courtroom.

“It is a formality to fold one’s hands, while entering the court premises. But Mahadevaswamy did not do it and entered with slippers on, insulting the court,” he said.