Can you guarentee the release of Rajkumar, if detainees are released? SC asks Karnataka

“Precisely state on what basis the Karnataka government came to the conclusion that Rajkumar will be released after 51 of his associates are released on bail,” Bharucha and fellow judges D P Mohapatra and Y K Sabharwal told the state government.

Salve replied that he would consult Chief Minister S M Krishna and get back to the court with an affidavit.

The bench asked, “What happens if the associates are released and the bandit refuses to free Rajkumar.” Veerappan, it said, had demanded the release of all TADA detenus in Karnataka. “How did you zero in on the number of 51,” it asked.

The court noted that Veerappan had made other demands like the unveiling of the statue of Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar and making Tamil the second language in Karnataka. “What have you done about these demands? You thought that this (releasing TADA detenus) was the easiest demand to concede. This is the truth,” it said.

The crux of Salve’s argument was the state as a sovereign power was within its right to withdraw the charges under Section 321 of the CrPC in theinterest of maintaining public peace.

The remarks came up when the SC was hearing the petition filed by retired police officer officer Abdul Karim and PILs filed by B L Wadhera and others challenging the two state government’s decision to free 51 TADA detainees, allegedly the associates of the brigand and whose release has been demanded by him to release Rajkumar.

The bench said “we will take into account the fact that Tamil Nadu has confirmed the association of Veerappan with secessionist elements”.