VEERAPPAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants in these two appeals are the convicted accused in S.C.No.181 of 2008 dated 29.10.2012 on the file of the III Additional Sessions Judge, Erode.

(2.) The brief facts of the case is that on 30.07.2000 at about 08.45 p.m., Karnataka Cine Artist Rajkumar was abducted from his Farm House by one Veerappan and his associates. He was confined in a secrete place at Sathyamangalam Forest Area. The said Rajkumar was put under threat and fear of death, if the Government of Tamil Nadu and Government of Karnataka failed to accede to their demands. In this connection, Thalavadi Police has registered First Information Report in Crime No.90 of 2000 and taken it for investigation. Meanwhile, Rs.15 crores was transferred from the side of representative of the captive to the representative of the captor on 3 different dates. Thereafter, Rajkumar was released on 14.11.2011.

(3.) The case of the prosecution is that Rs.15 crores paid from the side of the captive on 16.08.2000, 20.09.2000 and 13.11.2000 were received by the accused persons for screening the evidence and to supply essentials to Veerappan and his associates. Alleging that pursuant to the conspiracy, these 26 accused persons have received the money from Veerappan and converted in to assets in their names either by deposit in the bank or by purchase of motor vehicles, jewels or hiding the cash in secluded place.