Focus on Gopal and his team

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, NOV. 27. Fresh clues obtained during interrogation of the Nakkeeran journalist, Mr. Sivasubramanian, could lead to the nabbing of the forest brigand, Veerappan, the Home Secretary, Mr. Naresh Gupta, said today.

Answering queries from reporters here, he said the Tamil Nadu Government was awaiting a report from Karnataka on the arrest and interrogation of Mr. Sivasubramanian.

Although the two governments told the editor of Nakkeeran, Mr. R. R. Gopal, that no criminal prosecution would be launched against him in relation to his mission to secure the release of the Kannada film actor, Mr. Rajkumar, from Veerappan, this was not a ``blanket assurance''. The assurance was given at a ``specific point of time'' for a ``specific purpose,'' the Home Secretary said. The assurance was made in a particular context, and it could not be valid for all time.

Mr. Gupta clarified that the Tamil Nadu police did not carry out the arrest of Mr. Sivasubramanian. The joint command of the Special Task Force in Tamil Nadu did not have to be informed of the arrest by the Karnataka STF.

Meanwhile, Mr. Gopal, in a statement, disputed the charges made by the Karnataka police against him and Mr. Sivasubramanian. Denying that he made money using Veerappan, Mr. Gopal wondered why these allegations were cropping up now, one year after the release of Mr. Rajkumar.

Referring to the claim that Mr. Sivasubramanian's confession had led to the recovery of ammunition, he wondered how the journalist could have spoken of the exact location in the ``vast and dense'' Mysore forests. ``This shows that the police had extracted a false confession from him''.

Denying that the Nakkeeran team had brought Tamil nationalist extremists close to Veerappan, Mr. Gopal said if this were the case, why did Veerappan send his first audio cassette through another Tamil magazine, Tamizhan Express.

Referring to the allegation that he saved Veerappan when Mr. Nagappa Maradagi, who was abducted along with Mr. Rajkumar, attacked the forest brigand, Mr. Gopal wondered: ``Had he killed Veerappan, what would have happened to Mr. Rajkumar and the other hostages? The gang would have simply slaughtered all the hostages including Mr. Rajkumar. As the official emissary of the two State Governments, isn't it my duty to ensure the safety of the hostages?''

Money changed hands

Officials, however, insisted that money had changed hands during the release of Mr. Rajkumar. Huge sums had also been recovered from relatives of Veerappan. However, only part of the money routed through the emissaries had reached Veerappan. The confession by Mr. Sivasubramanian could lead to the full details of the kidnap episode becoming clear.

The focus now is on Mr. Gopal and the Nakkeeran team. In the event of its being proved that the Nakkeeran journalists were part of the ``conspiracy'', the assurance given to them would not be binding on the Government.

As per the terms agreed to by the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments with Mr. Gopal, the police authorities of the States woud not require him and his associates to reveal any information on their aides in respect of their mission to Veerappan. Also, they would not be compelled to hand over any material in their possession as an object of evidence.

The Tamil Nadu Government is expected to decide on the next course of action only after obtaining the report from the Karnataka Government.

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Section  : Southern States
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