Mysore, Dec 07: Jailed Tamil activist Kolathur Mani, who is being demanded as emissary by forest brigand Veerappan to negotiate the release of abducted JD(U) leader H Nagappa, today filed applications seeking bail in a Mysore court, which posted the case for orders on Monday.

Public prosecutor Muthappa Rai did not raise objections to Mani's bail applications, filed by his advocate T Prakash. The bail applications were filed before additional sessions judge Munnoli, as the Kollegal court had held recently that it was beyond its jurisdiction to entertain them in view of the nature of cases Mani faced. Mani is charged with supplying explosives to Veerappan, among others.

But objections to Mani being released on bail were filed by lawyers Shivannegowda and Ramakrishna, who in their applications, contended that abduction of Nagappa was a 'ploy' by Veerappan to secure the release of Mani.

The Karnataka High Court has granted bail to Mani in three cases and he has to secure similar relief from the Mysore court now to enable him undertake a mediatory mission to the jungles to talk to Veerappan.
Lending a new twist to the 105-day old Nagappa hostage crisis, Mani had said earlier this week that he had not yet made up his mind on his mission and that no 'official message' had been communicated to him by the government.

But home minister Mallikarjun Kharge said yesterday that the government would ask him to go as emissary after he secures bail in all the cases.
Bureau Report