• Karnataka Govt. paid the brigand in three instalments
• Book by former ‘Nakkheeran’ journalist reveals startling details about kidnap and ransom

Mysore/Mysuru: So much mythology has sprung up around kidnapper, elephant poacher and sandalwood smuggler Koose Muniswamy Veerappan that it is practically impossible to weed out fact from fiction. While his elephant poaching and sandalwood smuggling were a headache to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Police, his kidnappings of celebrities and deadly action against Forest and Police officers gained national and international attention.

On October 18, 2004, 52-year-old Veerappan was killed. The legend of Veerappan, however, did not end even with his death. Many books and articles were written on him by Police officers who were involved in his killing and by people who knew the brigand from close quarters. 

The latest in the bandwagon is ‘Veerappan Vaazhnthathum Veezhnthathum (Life & Fall of Veerappan) – part two and three’ that were released on Feb. 6. The first part of the book was released last year. The book written by journalist P. Sivasubramaniyam who was part of the team that negotiated the release of thespian Dr. Raj Kumar who was kidnapped by Veerappan. 

The actor was kidnapped on the night of July 30, 2000 from his farm house in Gajanur near Thalavadi in Tamil Nadu. On behalf of the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments, a team led by ‘Nakkheeran’ magazine Editor R.R. Gopal was sent into the forest to negotiate with Veerappan and fellow journalist Sivasubramaniyam, Salem reporter and author of the book, was part of the team.

Rs. 15.22 crore as ransom 

In his book, Sivasubramaniyam has claimed that Karnataka Government had paid Rs. 15.22 crore as ransom to secure a deal with Veerappan. Raj Kumar’s relatives Govindaraj, Nakesh and his assistant Nagappa were also abducted. After several rounds of negotiations, which lasted 106 days, Veerappan released Raj Kumar on Nov. 13, 2000.

Soon after the release, it was widely speculated that a huge ransom, running into crores of rupees, was paid to Veerappan and in the name of Veerappan, many vested interests too pocketed large amounts of money. So much so that in 2002, Tamil Nadu Special Public Prosecutor Sankaranarayan told the Erode District Sessions Court that Rs. 40 crore was paid to Veerappan for the release of the thespian.

Sankaranarayan made this startling revelation when he was opposing the bail plea of ‘Nakkheeran’ journalist Sivasubramaniyam, who was made one of the accused in the kidnapping case. Magazine Editor Gopal too was an accused in the case. However, the ransom issue was denied by both Karnataka and TN Governments and was dismissed as rumours. 

Initial demand of Rs. 1,000 crore

Now Sivasubramaniyam himself writes in his book that Rs. 15.22 crore was paid as ransom to the brigand. In fact, Sivasubramaniyam was the first journalist to meet Veerappan and release his picture to outside world. 

At first, Veerappan demanded Rs. 1,000 crore, including Rs. 900 crore worth gold ingots and Rs. 100 crore in cash. Sivasubramaniyam says in his book that Veerappan received Rs. 10 crore in cash from Karnataka Govt. to release Dr. Raj Kumar. 

Karnataka Government gave Rs. 10 crore in two instalments to Veerappan through ‘Nakkheeran’ Gopal and the final instalment of Rs. 5.22 crore was handed over to Veerappan by Dr. Bhanu, who treated the thespian inside the forest, and the then Karnataka Tamil Sangham President Shanmuga Sundaram. 

Satellite phone 

A few days before the release, on Nov. 10, 2000, Veerappan spoke with an important politician in Karnataka, who held an important post, through what we believe was a satellite phone, writes Sivasubramaniyam. During the conversation, the brigand told the important politician that in the Rs. 10 crore sent through ‘Nakkheeran’ Gopal, there was a shortfall of Rs. 22 lakh. The important politician then assured Veerappan that Rs. 5.22 crore will be paid. Later, the money was sent through Dr. Bhanu and Shanmuga Sundaram, reveals Sivasubramaniyam. 

‘Nakkheeran’ magazine Editor Gopal, however, denied involvement of money and said Raj Kumar was released through negotiations only. “Money was not involved in Raj Kumar’s release. Even Raj Kumar’s family members denied this. Sivasubramaniyam is not part of our magazine now. The book is a figment of his imagination and the allegations he has levelled against me are false,” Gopal told Star of Mysore.

Kolathur Mani admits

Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK) President Kolathur Mani, who also played an important role in the release of Dr. Raj Kumar, admitted that Veerappan had received Rs. 10 crore. “We are not aware of the Rs. 5.22 crore final settlement and we got involved in the issue after Veerappan refused to release the actor even after receiving money. It was Sivasubramaniyam who took me and Dr. Bhanu to Veerappan and Dr. Bhanu treated the actor,” he said.

“Later again I and Dr. Bhanu went to Veerappan and secured Dr. Raj Kumar’s release. We were not involved directly or indirectly in the money transfer,” he clarified.