A police investigation led to the arrest of five suspects whose interrogation , the police allege, pointed the needle of suspicion at Jayendra Saraswati.

The shankaracharya has been unable to secure bail and is being held at the Vellore jail. All he can hope for is that the rahu kala passes as soon as possible.

Photograph: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images

Also see: On the Road to Sainthood