Search the Internet           Tips

The mystery of Nagappa

M D Riti in Bangalore

Hero or villain? Assistant director or servant? Even after Dr Rajakumar returned from the forest, Nagappa, the man who allegedly escaped from the clutches of Veerappan, continues to remain an enigma.

For one, Nagappa never showed up after his first press conference. At that time, he claimed to have grappled with Veerappan before escaping. Subsequently, he gave various conflicting versions of his getaway.

Nagappa has not even appeared before the court hearing maverick politician Hottepaksha Rangaswamy's suit demanding that he be produced before a judge. Nagappa's lawyer said that his client is safe, under police protection in Yelahanka, and will come to the next hearing.

Is Nagappa in police custody? Are they protecting him? From whom? From irate Rajakumar fans, who might attack him for having allegedly prolonged Rajakumar's sojourn in the forest? From Rajakumar's sons? Especially the youngest Puneet, who some friends of Nagappa claim beat him up soon after his return.

"We are very angry with him for having escaped from the forest," says Puneet Rajakumar. "At the same time, we respect his right to live and desire to escape from the jungle," he said.

Rajakumar's family feels that, upset about Nagappa's escape, Veerappan delayed Rajakumar's release.

However, Puneet denied allegations that he beat up Nagappa.

After escaping, Nagappa claimed that he had escaped because he wanted to see the by then sick Parvathamma, Rajakumar's wife. Parvathamma, apparently, would not even look at Nagappa when he presented himself before her.

Shankar Bidri, the police officer, who Veerappan loves to hate, firmly believes that Nagappa is a hero.

The exact circumstances of Nagappa's escape are still shrouded in mystery.

Nagappa had claimed that he escaped after a skirmish with one of Veerappan's men, or Veerappan himself, and trekked to the edge of the forest. However, sceptics point out that it was a moonless night and ask how he made his way out of the forest?

Another version has it that Nagappa was caught by Veerappan while trying to escape. However, the former attacked the bandit and even managed to wound him grievously. Apparently, an angry Veerappan wanted to kill him then and there, but was advised against it by his cronies. Instead, he had Nagappa beaten up mercilessly and released at the edge of the forest.

It is common knowledge that large production and distribution houses have numerous odd job men going by the fancy title of assistant director working for them. Nagappa was one of them. He has served the Rajakumar family for about 15 years now.

It was in this capacity that he volunteered to accompany Rajakumar when Veerappan took him hostage.

A month into the hostage crisis, Nagappa's wife and daughter fell on hard days and moved into her brother's house in Bangalore. The film chamber as well as the Shivaraj Kumar Fans' Association gave her some money and necessities.

Nagappa's father, who lives in north Karnataka, says Nagappa's wife wrote to him recently about the tough time she is having in making ends meet. Even he could not meet his son when he came to Bangalore to assess the situation for himself.

After having antagonised the Rajakumar family, his future in the Kannada film industry is undoubtedly bleak.

Now, Deputy Inspector General of Police Kempaiah, a family friend of the Rajakumars, who is part of the reconstituted Special Task Force to nab Veerappan, wants to take Nagappa along into the forests to help them find Veerappan's hideout.

He reasons that since Nagappa claims to have escaped and trekked out of the forest on his own, he should know his way around the place.

The question this entire episode raises is whether a man has the right to try and save his own life, even if it jeopardises that of his master's? Or, should he be loyal unto and beyond death?

Whatever the final outcome of the Rajakumar kidnap saga, Nagappa is bound to emerge the loser.

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report