IANS

Bangalore, May 16: The Karnataka government in a belated move has decided to seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into the mysterious death of state minister H Nagappa while in the custody of forest brigand Veerappan over four years ago.

Home Minister M P Prakash told reporters here Tuesday that the decision was taken by the state cabinet, as the R G Vaidyanathan commission of inquiry, set up to investigate Nagappa's death in December 2002, had favoured such an inquiry since the case involved two states - Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

'The commission has recommended a CBI probe to ascertain whether Nagappa was killed by Veerappan or by the joint special task force (STF), set up to rescue the hostage from Veerappan's captivity and hunt down the bandit king. As it is a sensitive issue involving the two neighbouring states, we prefer the CBI investigate the case,' Prakash said.

The cabinet, which met here Monday, also decided to pay an ex-gratia to Pramila Nagappa, widow of Nagappa and a legislator of the ruling Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) from Hanur in Chamrajanagar district.

'The amount will be decided by the chief minister (H D Kumaraswamy). As a follow-up action, the government will suspend Hanur circle inspector Shashikumar for security lapses leading to the dramatic abduction of Nagappa from his house in the village by the brigand Aug 25, 2002,' Prakash pointed out.

Nagappa, 62, was whisked away by the brigand into the forests bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu a year after he kidnapped Kannada thespian Rajkumar and three others in a similar fashion from Gajanur July 30, 2001.

Though Veerappan released Rajkumar Nov 12, 2001, Nagappa was held hostage for over 100 days, pending negotiations with the state government over the 'assurances' made for setting the superstar free, unharmed.

On Dec 8, 2002, a bullet-ridden body of Nagappa was found abandoned in the bandit's lair near the MM Hills by some shepherds. Soon after, Veerappan sent an audio cassette to the government, alleging sharp-shooters of the Tamil Nadu STF killed Nagappa.

With the death of Veerappan Oct 18, 2004 at the hands of the Tamil Nadu STF, inquiries, investigations and legal cases against the brigand's illegal activities such as smuggling of sandalwood and ivory took a back seat.

The judicial probe into Nagappa's death was ordered by the then Congress government headed by S M Krishna, ignoring the plea of the victim's family for a CBI probe.

Meanwhile, the Congress slammed the state government for seeking a CBI probe into the death after a lapse of four years and termed the decision a political vendetta.

'The people of Karnataka will know soon why the government wants a CBI probe at this point of time. The government should also seek a similar (CBI) probe into the pay-off charges against Kumaraswamy and some ministers in the Bellary iron ore mining scam,' opposition leader and former chief minister N. Dharam Singh told reporters.

Pramila, however, welcomed the CBI probe and said the decision vindicated her family's stand all along for such an inquiry as the then government had failed to secure Nagappa's safe release from the clutches of Veerappan.