CBI to probe former Minister’s death in Veerappan’s custody

The Karnataka Government has decided to seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the mysterious death of former Minister H Nagappa in forest bandit Veerappan’s captivity five years ago.

The Karnataka Government’s decision to refer the case to the CBI, which comes more than two years after Veerappan’s death in an encounter with the police, follows a recommendation to the effect by the R G Vaidyanathan Commission of Inquiry constituted to look into Nagappa’s death.

The Commission, in its report to the State Government, has recommended a CBI inquiry into the matter as the issue concerned two states – Karnataka and neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Nagappa, who was kidnapped from his farmhouse at Kamagere on Karnataka’s border with Tamil Nadu by Veerappan and his gang during August 2002, was found dead in the forests of M M Hills on December 8, 2002. His dead body was riddled with bullet injuries.

The then S M Krishna Government had instituted a Commission of Inquiry headed by R G Vaidyanathan after Veerappan, in an audio cassette, accused the Tamil Nadu security personnel of shooting down Nagappa.

Meanwhile, Karnataka’s Home Minister M P Prakash told reporters that the Commission, apart from recommending a CBI probe, had sought action against a Karnataka police inspector for his failure to act after Nagappa was abducted from his farmhouse. “The pointed out that the inspector had failed to intercept a private bus into which the bandit had bundled Nagappa despite seeing the vehicle pass by”, Prakash said.

R G Vaidyanathan’s report also suggested that the Government pay compensation to the family of Nagappa, but did not indicate the amount. However, Prakash said the State Cabinet, which discussed the report during its last meeting, decided to authorize Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to take a decision on the amount of compensation to be paid to Parimala Nagappa, the widow of Nagappa. Parimala Nagappa is now MLA of the ruling JD (S).

Nagappa’s family members have made it clear that they would co-operate with the CBI in its inquiry and expressed hope that they would secure justice.

“We will hand over to the CBI all the six cassettes sent by Veerappan and a photocopy of the diary maintained by Nagappa during his captivity”, Nagappa’s brother in law Suresh has told reporters.