Mysore: A TADA (Terrorists And Disruptive Activities-prevention-Act) court in Mysore on October 25 granted bail to Tamil activist Kollathur Mani, who is being demanded as an emissary by forest brigand Veerappan to negotiate the release of JD-U leader H Nagappa.

The Mysore District Principal and Sessions Judge K G Hosur granted bail to Mani, held under TADA in the 1993 Palar blast case in Chamrajnagar district in Karnataka. He was arrested under TADA for allegedly helping Veerappan.

Defence lawyer Prakash told the court that though Mani was in jail for more than six months, the chargesheet was yet to be filed against him and this action rendered the arrested being released on bail.

Special Public Prosecutor Thimarayappa did not file any objections to the bail application of Mani.

In the third cassette, Veerappan has insisted that Mani and Kollegal taluk JD-U leader Mahadevaswamy be sent as emissaries to hold talks with him for the release of Nagappa, who spent the 62nd day in the captivity of the bandit on October 25.

Mani is facing four other cases, including two in the state High Court where his bail applications are pending.

Meanwhile Abdul Kareem, father of Shakeel Ahmed, a police sub-inspector who was killed by Veerappan in 1992, has faxed a Public Interest Litigation to the Supreme Court pleading against the release of Mani on bail.

PTI