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DVAC questions Veerasamy on `ransom payment'

By Our Special Correspondent

The former DMK Minister, Arcot Veerasamy, leaving the DVAC office in Chennai after having been questioned by the agency on Thursday in connection with "payment of a ransom" to the forest brigand, Veerappan. - Photo: K. Gajendran

CHENNAI MAY 29. The former Minister, Arcot N.Veerasamy, was questioned here today by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in connection with alleged "payment of a ransom" for getting the release of the Kannada filmstar, Rajkumar, from the forest brigand, Veerappan, during the previous DMK rule. The police process lasted about an hour.

During the debate on the demands for the Police department, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, said in the Assembly that she had ordered a DVAC enquiry into the matter of "ransom payment", particularly the then Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi's role in it. The decision was a sequel to a book written by a retired Karnataka Director-General of Police, alleging payment of ransom for securing the release of Mr. Rajkumar.

After receiving an order from the Government, the investigating agency commenced the enquiry. Accordingly, Mr. Veerasamy came to the DVAC office on Greenways Road around 10 a.m.

Later answering newspersons' queries, he said he had told the investigators that no ransom amount was given. The author himself had not made clear in his book to whom the amount was given. Questions were also put to him on the visits by the Karnataka Chief Minister to the State and of a Tamil Nadu team to the neighbouring State for securing the release of Rajkumar.

Mr. Veerasamy said the police action was launched only to tarnish the image of Mr. Karunanidhi and the party.

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