India's Supreme Court has granted bail to a leading Hindu cleric, Jayendra Saraswathi, who faces murder charges.
Jayendra Saraswathi was arrested in November. He denies murder and criminal conspiracy over the death of a former aide in southern Tamil Nadu state.
The cleric is one of India's most revered priests and his arrest angered his Hindu nationalist supporters.
Meanwhile, police in Tamil Nadu have arrested his deputy in connection with their investigation.
Vijayendra Saraswathi was detained hours after his boss won bail.
Both men belong to the Hindu religious seat of the Kanchi Mutt, and Vijayendra Saraswathi became interim leader when Jayendra Saraswathi was arrested two months ago.
Bail Bond
Prosecutors allege that the clerics hatched a conspiracy to kill the former aide, Sankararaman, and hired hit men to murder him. Both men have denied any role in the killing.
Twenty-five people including the two clerics have been arrested in connection with the murder so far.
Earlier on Monday, the court ordered Jayendra Saraswathi's release from jail in southern Tamil Nadu state on payment of a bail bond and two sureties.
"We are of the opinion that prima facie a strong case has been made out for the granting of bail," the judges found, overturning a lower court order which had refused him bail.
" It is with an immense sense of relief and satisfaction, shared by millions of my countrymen, that I greet the news "
The judges said police had found no evidence to suggest the cleric had shown any resentment towards the murdered temple official, who is alleged to have criticised his conduct.
Jayendra Saraswathi was ordered not to visit the highly revered monastery he heads in the town of Kanchipuram until the murder investigation is over.
It is not clear how much money the cleric - who controls assets worth billions of dollars - was ordered to pay to secure bail.
Monday's news was greeted warmly by various Hindu nationalist leaders and groups. Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said it had relieved "pain in the hearts of millions of Hindus".
"It is with an immense sense of relief and satisfaction, shared by millions of my countrymen, that I greet the news," Mr Vajpayee said in a statement.
Some Hindu nationalist groups have now called for charges against Jayendra Saraswathi to be dropped, arguing that the evidence against him is too weak.
The current Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has also entered to dispute, calling on the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalitha, to insure that the investigation against a "person of his eminence" is "conducted with extreme care and consideration".
The murdered man, Sankararaman, reportedly wrote anonymous letters accusing Jayendra Saraswathi of misusing monastery funds.
The allegations included embezzlement of gold procured for making a temple chariot and providing lavish lifestyles for the seer's relatives.
The alleged hit men were arrested several weeks after the murder of Sankararaman in September.
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