Mysore: Jailed Tamil activist Kolathur Mani, who is being demanded as emissary by
forest brigand Veerappan to negotiate the release of abducted Janata Dal – United
(JD-U) leader H Nagappa, on December 7 filed applications seeking bail in a Mysore
court, which posted the case for orders on December 9.
Public prosecutor Muthappa Rai did not raise objections to Mani's bail applications,
filed by his advocate T Prakash.
The bail applications were filed before additional sessions judge Munnoli, as the
Kollegal court had held recently that it was beyond its jurisdiction to entertain
them in view of the nature of cases Mani faced. Mani is charged with supplying
explosives to Veerappan, among others.
However, objections to Mani being released on bail were filed by Shivannegowda and
Ramakrishna, who in their applications contended that abduction of Nagappa was
a "ploy" by Veerappan to secure the release of Mani.
The Karnataka High Court has granted bail to Mani in three cases and he has to
secure similar relief from the Mysore court now to enable him undertake a mediatory
mission to the jungles to talk to Veerappan.
Lending a new twist to the 105-day old Nagappa hostage crisis, Mani had said earlier
this week that he had not yet made up his mind on his mission and that no "official
message" had been communicated to him by the government.
Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said on December 6 that the government would ask
him to go as emissary after he secures bail in all the cases.
PTI
