The petition challenging Karnataka government's controversial decision to release 51 associates of forest brigand Veeralpan to seek the release of Kannada superstar Rajkumar will come up for hearing in the Supreme Court on September 19. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice A S Anand fixed the date after solicitor General Harish Salve informed that both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments have filed their responses to the petition.
Meanwhile, two other petitions by the detenues including 12 women seeking their release have been filed. They would also come up on September 19. On September 1, the apex court had indefinitely stayed release of 30 associates of Veerappan which was agreed to by the Karnataka state to secure release of Rajkumar. The court had admitted a petition challenging the order of the trial court releasing these accused in a case pertaining to a murder of special task force SP Haribhasker.

Bureau Report