Madras High Court Upholds Acquittal in Landmark Veerappan-Rajkumar Case
In a significant legal development, the Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government. The appeal challenged a trial court order that had acquitted nine associates of the notorious forest brigand Veerappan. These individuals were accused in the high-profile abduction case of legendary Kannada actor Rajkumar, which occurred in the year 2000.
Details of the Acquittal and Legal Proceedings
The original acquittal was delivered by a Gopichettipalayam sessions court on September 25, 2018. The court cleared the nine surviving accused—Govindaraj, Andril, Pasuvanna, Puttusamy, Kalmandiraman, Maran, Selvam, Amirthalingam, and Nagaraj—of all charges leveled against them. This case initially involved a total of 14 accused persons, including Veerappan himself.
Notably, Veerappan, along with Sethukuli Govindan, Chandra Gowda, and Sethumani, was killed in a police encounter in 2004. Another accused, Ramesh, remains untraceable to this day. The abduction incident took place on July 30, 2000, at Thoddakanjanur near Thalavadi in Erode district, where Rajkumar was staying at his farmhouse. The actor was held captive for 108 days before being released by Veerappan.
Prolonged Trial and Judicial History
The legal proceedings in this case spanned an extensive period of 18 years, during which the trial was overseen by as many as 10 different judges. The trial concluded on September 17, 2018, just days before the acquittal order was pronounced. Dissatisfied with the outcome, the prosecution filed an appeal with the Madras High Court in 2019, seeking to overturn the acquittal.
After five years of deliberation, a division bench comprising Justice P Velmurugan and Justice M Jothiraman delivered its verdict on Wednesday. The bench refused to allow the appeal, thereby dismissing it and confirming the trial court's order of acquittal. This decision marks a pivotal moment in one of Tamil Nadu's most protracted and closely watched criminal cases.
Implications and Broader Context
The dismissal of the appeal underscores the complexities and challenges inherent in prosecuting cases involving organized crime figures like Veerappan, who operated in the dense forests along the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border. The case has drawn significant public and media attention over the decades, reflecting broader issues related to law enforcement, judicial processes, and regional security concerns.
With this ruling, the legal chapter for the nine acquitted individuals appears to be closed, barring any further appeals to higher courts. The outcome also highlights the enduring legacy of Veerappan's criminal activities and their impact on the legal and social fabric of the region.
