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Investigating officer ticked
off for avoiding court

The Kollegal munsif court judge on Saturday ticked off investigating officer Additional Superintendent of Police (Chamarajnagar district) Ganapathi for his failure to provide details about the H Nagappa abduction case.

At the last hearing, Judge Doolappanavar had directed Ganapathi to file a status report on the case.

Taking exceptions to non-compliance of his order, the judge wanted to know whether the Karnataka home ministry has become defunct.

The public prosecutor explained Ganapathi's absence by saying he was performing his duty in the forest.

This answer enraged the judge who observed that the investigation officer's failure to report to the court amounted to challenging its jurisdiction, for which he could be prosecuted.

The court was hearing a case against Kollathur Mani in which he is accused of colluding with sandalwood smuggler Veerappan during the abduction of Kannada actor Rajakumar.

The judge also sought to know how the media was managing to meet Mani against his orders. He directed the officials concerned to file a report in this regard during the next hearing.

He directed the jail authorities to seek permission from the court before allowing any visitor to meet Mani in jail.

The judge posted the next hearing for November 29.

Meanwhile, Sivasubramaniam, the first reporter to have met Veerappan in the early nineties, on Sunday alleged that the Karnataka Special Task Force personnel had tortured him in custody.

The journalist is facing a case for allegedly colluding with Veerappan during Kannada actor Rajakumar's abduction.

The Karnataka STF had arrested him near B R Hills forest in Chamarajnagar district for allegedly trying to smuggle arms and ammunitions for Veerappan.

At present, he is out on bail.

Addressing mediapersons in Mysore, Sivasubramaniam said he was trying to establish contact with Veerappan as part of his work for Chennai-based Tamil weekly Nakkeeran when he was arrested.

He denied carrying arms or ammunition for Veerappan. It is an attempt by the Karnataka police to frame me, Sivasubramaniam alleged.

"My role during Rajakumar's abduction was that of a negotiator. I went along with my editor Gopal to negotiate Rajakumar's release as per the request of the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments. I had no personal motives in the episode," he said.

However, the police accused me of abetting Rajakumar's abduction and tried to extract a confession in this regard, he alleged.

"This is what I have received for my selfless work," he said.

Sivasubramaniam said he has sought an investigation by the National Human Rights Commission and the Central Bureau of Investigation into his case.

H Nagappa Abduction: Complete coverage
The Abduction of Dr Rajakumar
The Hunt for Veerappan

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