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Appu, alias Krishnasamy, one of the main accused in the Sankararaman murder case, on Sunday surrendered before Tamil Nadu police personnel in Balakrishnapuram village in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh.
Police allege that he had arranged for the persons who killed Sankararaman, a former official of the Kanchi mutt and later of the Varadarajaperumal temple in Kancheepuram.
Breaking the news, a local TV channel said Appu came to his farmhouse in his native village around 1330 IST. His two brothers-in-law stay in the village.
His family apparently approached the Kancheepuram superintendent of police with an offer to surrender a fortnight ago. They had only one condition - that police should not bump him off but assure his safety. After protracted negotiations, Appu finally surrendered.
A Tamil Nadu police team, led by Kancheepuram SP Prem Kumar, arrived at the village on Sunday around 1130 IST and held discussions with Appu's family members. They were assisted by an Andhra Pradesh police team.
Later, Appu surfaced and surrendered. After questioning him for some time, the TN police team took him into custody and left for Kancheepuram around 1700 IST changing vehicles 3-4 times en route.
Speaking to a Telugu TV channel before his surrender, Appu said, "I am innocent. I have no connection with the case. I am being falsely implicated. The Tamil Nadu police, the state government and everyone know this.
"I am comfortable with my life and there is no need for me to indulge in these activities. I don't know who is behind all this. I tried for (anticipatory) bail but failed to get it. So, I decided to surrender."