Madras High Court acquits nine accused in Dr Rajkumar kidnapping case after 25 years

Bengaluru : The Madras High Court has acquitted nine accused in the sensational kidnapping case of Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar, nearly 25 years after the incident that had shocked the nation. The High Court upheld the earlier acquittal order passed by the sessions court, citing lack of sufficient and credible evidence to prove the accused persons’ involvement in the crime.

The division bench comprising Justice P. Velmurugan and Justice M. Jothiraman dismissed the appeal filed by the Chennai police, who had challenged the sessions court verdict delivered on September 25, 2018. The sessions court had acquitted all nine accused, observing that investigators had failed to establish their direct links with forest brigand Veerappan and his gang.

The acquitted individuals include Govindaraj, Andril, Pasuvannan, Puttusamy, Kalmandiraman, Maran, Selvam, Amirthalingam, and Nagaraj. The trial court had noted that the prosecution could not provide adequate documentary or witness evidence to prove their participation in the kidnapping conspiracy. It also highlighted serious gaps in the investigation, including failure to thoroughly examine key witnesses such as Dr Rajkumar and his wife Parvathamma Rajkumar, as well as mediators who had played a crucial role during negotiations with Veerappan.

The kidnapping took place on July 30, 2000, when Veerappan and his armed associates abducted Dr Rajkumar from his farmhouse in Gajanur village near the Karnataka–Tamil Nadu border in Erode district. The actor’s relatives Govindaraj and Nagesh, along with assistant director Nagappa, were also kidnapped. Nagappa later managed to escape, while Dr Rajkumar was held hostage in the forest for 108 days before being released on November 15, 2000.

The incident triggered massive public outrage and widespread protests across Karnataka, with millions of fans demanding the safe release of the iconic actor. The state and central governments engaged in prolonged negotiations through intermediaries to secure his freedom. Although reports of ransom payments and concessions surfaced at the time, officials never publicly confirmed the details.

Police had registered cases against Veerappan, his wife Muthulakshmi, and several alleged accomplices. However, Veerappan was killed in 2004 during a special task force operation known as “Operation Cocoon,” which brought an end to his decades-long criminal activities.

With the High Court now upholding the acquittal, the prolonged legal battle has effectively concluded. The verdict marks a significant setback for the prosecution and underscores the importance of strong and credible evidence in securing convictions in high-profile criminal cases.