On November 12, the Tamil Nadu police arrested the Shankaracharya of Kanchi, Jayendra Saraswati, in connection with a murder. The victim was a former employee of the Kanchi Mutt.
The pontiff is one of the country's best-known religious leaders. He and the victim, Sankararaman, were reportedly not on good terms after the latter expressed dissent over some of the steps taken, or proposed, by the seer.
This is not the first time that Jayendra Saraswati has landed in the midst of controversy.
The Shankaracharya's arrest: The Complete Coverage
Photograph: Rediff.com