BANGALORE, NOV 16: Kannada film-icon Rajkumar returned home after over three months in the captivity of forest brigand Veerappan to rapturous welcome by thousands of his fans but the mystery surrounding his sudden release continued with Governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu maintaining silence on how they secured his freedom.Hundreds of fans of the 72-year-old thespian danced in joy as the helicopter carrying him from Tamil Nadu touched down at the Jakkur aerodrome near here just after noon and mobbed and lifted him on their shoulders and garlanded him.Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna received the superstar and brought him along with his family to the imposing Vidhan Soudha where Rajkumar told reporters that his sudden freedom made him wonder whether it was ``dream or reality''.The actor said Veerappan, whom he characterised as a man with ``some humaneness'' brought new set of clothes to him and his nephew Nagesh. Veerappan bid a farewell to them after giving them a good treat, Rajkumar said.Rajkumar said by the evening of November 14, they came out of the jungles.He said they were taken by a car to an undisclosed location, where they stayed overnight.The news of Rajkumar's release came to light only yesterday morning, after more than 14 hours of the actual occurrence.Clad in dhoti and shirt, the actor said to spend a day in the forest was an effort and even when he was released he had his apprehensions.``When I left the jungles and saw the roads and the people and buses I wondered whether it was a dream or reality,'' he said.He said initially he hoped he would be released within 15 days but hopes vanished when successive official mediation missions failed.Thanking Tamil Nationalist Movement leader and emissary P Nedumaran for his role in securing his freedom, Rajkumar said the four missions undertaken independently by the other emissaries Nakeeran Gopal had not yielded any results but only raised hopes.``It is left to the Government'', he shot back when asked whether Veerappan should be hunted. He said the brigand treated him and other hostages well.Even as the city burst out into celebrations questions were raised over his sudden release amidst reports that a heavy ransom was paid to the elephant poacher.While Rajkumar parried the question, Krishna abruptly wound up the press conference saying, ``I have come to present Rajkumar and that purpose has been served.''Rajkumar said, ``I have told my story. I am not aware of other things.'' However, his son Shivrajkumar denied any ransom was paid.
