Bangalore: The Justice R G Vaidyanatha Commission of Inquiry, probing the circumstances leading to the death of former minister H Nagappa during the captivity of forest brigand Veerappan, has issued summons to a Karnataka minister.

Confirming this, Karnataka's Agro-Processing Minister G Raju Gowda told reporters who met him that he did receive the summons which asked him to file an affidavit in view of allegations made against him by "some people".

He said he was writing a letter to the Commission seeking details regarding the allegations and the name of persons who made them as the summons "is mum on these issues."

"Unless I get these details how can I file an affidavit," asked Gowda, who represents Hanur Assembly segment in Chamarajnagar district from where the slain Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader also hailed.

About the statement of H T Sangliana, a top Karnataka police officer who retired on June 30, that Veerappan cannot be caught in the next 15 years, Gowda said, "If he (Sangliana) made the statement when he was in service, government could have saved a lot money (spent on efforts to nab the brigand)."

Asked if he thought Veerappan could be caught, he said government had given the assurance that he would be captured.

PTI