I am not under arrest, Nagappa tells HC

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, NOV. 30. Mr. Nagappa Maradagi, assistant film director, who had escaped from the forest brigand, Veerappan's custody, appeared before the Karnataka High Court on Thursday. After Mr. Nagappa was produced before the court by his advocate, Mr. Y.R. Manjunath, a Division Bench comprising Justice Mr. Ashok Bhan and Mr. Justice. A.V. Srinivasa Reddy, held an in-camera hearing.

After the hearing that took place inside Mr. Justice Bhan's chamber, the Bench observed that Mr. Nagappa had told the court that he was not under detention and was free too meet his relatives and friends.

Mr. Nagappa told the court that he was ill and was thus staying at his brother-in-law's house at Amruthahalli. He also expressed a desire to visit his native place, Maradagi in Dharwad district, the judges noted.

Mr. Nagappa also told the court that he needed monetary compensation, the judges observed. The case was adjourned to December 14.

Apart from Mr. Nagappa's counsel, the petitioner, Mr. Hottepaksha Rangaswamy, the Public Prosecutor, Mr. N.K.Ramesh, and the Special Public Prosecutor, Mr. Mohan Shatnanagouda, were present during the in-camera hearing. Earlier in the day, Mr. Nagappa was brought under police escort to the High Court around 10 a.m., and was taken into the court at 11 a.m. The in-camera hearing that started at 12.20 p.m., lasted for about 45 minutes.

After Mr. Nagappa escaped from the brigand's captivity on September 28, under ``mysterious'' circumstances, Mr. Hottepakasha Rangaswamy had filed a petition before the High Court seeking a direction to the State Police to produce the escaped hostage before the court so that he could come out with the truth about his escape.

The Director-General and Inspector-General of Police, Mr. C. Dinakar, later filed an affidavit before the court stating that Mr. Nagappa was not in police custody.

On November 27, the court directed Mr. Nagappa's counsel to produce him before it on November 30.

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Section  : Southern States
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