More than 18 years after Kannada thespian Rajkumar was abducted by forest brigand Veerappan and his associates, a court in Gobichettipalayam in Erode district will deliver the verdict in the case on September 25.
While Veerappan was killed in an encounter by the Special Task Force in October 2004, Rajkumar died two years later.
The actor was abducted on the night of July 30, 2000 from his farmhouse at Dhodda Gajanur village in Talavadi and was held captive for 108 days by Veerappan in the jungle.
He was released on November 15, 2000 and the Talavadi police registered a case against Veerappan and 11 of his associates.
Later, the case was transferred to CB-CID. Two of the accused — Sethukuzi Govindan and Rangasamy — died during the course of the trial. The Third Additional District Court Judge examined 47 witnesses.
On Monday, five of the accused, Govindaraj, Anthil, Pasuvanna, Kuppusamy and Kalmadi Raman, appeared in the court.
Judge K. Mani said that the judgment would be delivered on September 25 and asked all the nine accused to appear in the court.
