Veerappan is dead, so is Rajkumar: Court asks actor’s ailing widow to appear, HC rebukes

The Madras High Court has pulled up a trial court hearing the case of the abduction of late Kannada star Rajkumar by dead forest brigand Veerappan in 2000, for asking the actor’s widow to appear for a hearing. The rebuke comes after Parvathammal, who is now old and suffering from Alzheimer’s, sought exemption from appearance on medical grounds.

TOI reports that, on Friday, the III additional district-cum-sessions judge at Gobichettipalayam in Erode invited the Madras high court's ire, for having summoned Rajkumar's widow, Parvathammal, to be present to give evidence during the trial.  Justice P N Prakash, said, “In the case genuine request appears to have been made by the prosecution contending that Parvathammal was suffering from Alzheimer's and therefore, no purpose would be served by bringing her all the way from Karnataka for giving evidence, as she may not even be able to depose to the facts that had taken place in the year 2000.”

The high court also said, “the matter is remitted to the trial court for fresh consideration as to whether the evidence of Parvathammal would be essential in the light of the assertion that she suffers from Alzheimer's. Liberty is given to the prosecution to establish the fact that Parvathammal is not in a position to give evidence by examining the physician or any other person who is treating her. The entire exercise shall be completed in four weeks.”

Rajkumar was abducted by Veerappan on July 30, 2000 and was released on November 15 later that year.