Ill-health reason for release?

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, OCT. 16. While the reason behind Veerappan releasing only Mr. Govindaraju is not known, speculation is rife that it might have been his ill-health.

Earlier, there were rumours that the health of Mr. Govindraju, a diabetic, had deteriorated, and that he would be the first to be released.

Mr. Govindraju, a film producer, is the younger brother of Ms. Parvathamma and married her daughter, Ms. Lakshmi. In his mid- forties, Mr. Govindaraju looks after Vajreshwari Combines, the film production house owned by the family.

Mr. Rajkumar's family refused to speak about the release. A source close to the family said there was variation in Ms. Parvathamma's blood pressure, and the family doctor, Dr. Ramana Rao, examined her late in the night.

``Ms. Parvathamma's health has been a cause of concern, and an air of uneasiness prevailed at Mr. Rajkumar's Sadashivanagar residence,'' sources said, adding that her condition was stable. Mr. Rajkumar's elder brother, Mr. Varadappa, and his family members arrived at the Sadashivanagar residence at around 11.15 p.m.

The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, held a high-level meeting with the Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, the Home Secretary, Mr. M.B. Prakash, the DGP, Mr. C. Dinakar, and the City Police Commissioner, Mr. T. Madiyal. The meeting, which began at Mr. Krishna's home `Anugraha'' at 11 p.m., went on till midnight.

It is said that the Chief Minister convened the meet as there was some definite information about Mr. Rajkumar's release.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Kharge had said the State Government was anticipating ``good news any moment'', since it had received a message to this effect from the Tamil Nadu Government. However, he could not specify the exact hour and moment when the ``good news'' was likely. According to his information, talks by the four-member team with Veerappan in the forest were smooth and successful.

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