Kamasani Gopalakrishna Swamy alias Appu (59), key accused in the 2004 Sankararaman murder case in Tamil Nadu, says he is a victim of politics.
Appu, a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader from Gopalapuram area of Chennai, spoke to The Hindu from his bed at the Government General Hospital, Chittoor, on Monday, where he has been undergoing treatment for various health problems, amidst tight police escort.
Referring to the criminal cases against him, Appu said he was listed as an accused in the Sankararaman murder case as he was with the DMK. “I am innocent and it was proved. I was acquitted in the case. And everybody knows who did it, I can’t speak about this,” he maintained. When asked whether he faced any political oppression, Appu said he was still with the DMK.
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“I was asked to come to Tirupati on Friday for some inquiry. The CBCID police arrested me on charges of supplying illicit liquor in Nellore district during the elections some months ago. I don’t know anything about this. I am applying for bail, and I am under remand till December 12,” he said.
Denying his involvement in the red sanders smuggling in Chittoor district, he maintained, “I don't know anything about this. I am a diabetic. I can’t even move freely.”
Speaking chaste Telugu, Appu said his family had moved to Tamil Nadu several decades ago.
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“I remember our forefathers’ village Balakrishnapuram in Chittoor district. I can speak Telugu and Tamil fluently,” he said.
“I am not into illicit liquor trade or red sanders smuggling. My business is export of food grains to South East Asian countries which had a turnover running into runs crores of rupees. I am alone now, and none has come to see me so far,” he said.