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Karnataka govt paid Rs 300 million for Rajakumar's release: Jaya

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday alleged the Karnataka government had paid Rs 300 million as ransom to Veerappan to secure the release of Kannada filmstar Rajakumar, abducted by the forest brigand in 2000.

Addressing the media in Chennai, she demanded that a probe be initiated to find out the 'truth' in this matter.

She also said that the state police was investigating the 'Veerappan links' of former chief minister and leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi.

She had recently alleged that his visit to Bangalore had some connection to the abduction of the former Karnataka minister Nagappa.

She ruled out sending any emissary or negotiating with the brigand, saying that that her government would attempt to capture the brigand without jeopardising the life of Nagappa.

Outlining the progress made so far, she said that Veerappan is said to have abandoned the bus, in which he had abducted Nagappa, at a place 30 km from the Tamil Nadu border and the police would not let him enter Tamil Nadu.

She said information about the operation is being exchanged between the Tamil Nadu and the Karnataka governments, and Chief Minister S M Krishna had told her that the first cassette did not have specific demands.

She said the Karnataka chief minister did not mention the receipt of the second cassette.

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

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