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Karnataka delegation to meet Jaya

Karnataka Home Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge is to lead a delegation to Chennai on Monday to hold consultations with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on efforts to secure H Nagappa's release from Veerappan's clutches.

Education Minister B K Chandrashekar and Chief Secretary A Ravindra would be among those accompanying Kharge along with police officials.

The Tamil Nadu government has agreed to help Karnataka on humanitarian grounds following a request by the latter two days ago.

This development has gladdened Nagappa's supporters who hope that the Janata Dal (United) leader would soon be released.

Meanwhile, the police on Friday produced Kollathur Mani before the junior munsif court in Chamarajnagar in connection with the case accusing of him of colluding with sandalwood smuggler Veerappan during Kannada actor Rajakumar's abduction.

Veerappan has asked Mani to be sent as an emissary to negotiate Karnataka ex-minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nagappa's release.

Mani and a journalist, Sivasubramaniam, are accused of supplying arms and ammunition to Veerappan. The case has been registered in Chamarajnagar.

Mani was brought to Chamarajnagar from the jail in Bellary where he has been lodged.

Judge Devaraja Bhat adjourned the case to November 28. He also barred journalists from speaking to Mani.

Mani's counsel told rediff.com that they are yet to apply for bail as the junior munsif court would not grant bail in such cases.

"We are waiting for the judge to transfer the case to the sessions court in Mysore where we can seek bail," he said.

This is expected to take about a month, meaning a further delay in securing Mani's release on bail, he added.

Sivasubramaniam, who is out on bail, was present along with his counsel. He refused to speak about Nagappa's abduction. His counsel informed the media that his client had secured bail in a Salem court in October.

Sivasubramaniam was arrested by the Karnataka police near the B R Hills forest in Chamarajnagar district while ferrying arms and ammunition for Veerappan.

The police had picked up Mani and Sivasubramaniam from the same forest but on different days.

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