Jail official seeks black warrant for four Veerappan associates

While the Supreme Court was hearing the plea of four aides of forest brigand Veerappan, lodged in Hindalga Central Prison, Belgaum, seeking stay on their death sentences, Assistant Superintendent of the prison C S Thulloora paid a visit to the office of Chief Administrative Officer, Law Court complex in Mysore, seeking a black warrant.

His exercise, however, went in vain. A black warrant is a writ which authorises execution of a judgment of death on an individual.

Chief Administrative Officer Narayan Swamy is learnt to have bought time till the Supreme Court gave its order on the plea.

When the apex court pronounced stay on execution of the death sentence till February 20, the jail officer had to return empty handed. Sources said the officer is expected to stay in Mysore till further orders of the court.

‘They were calm’

When the four were charged for their crimes by the Special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court here 20 years ago, what they had to say in common was, “We are innocents.” After seven months of speedy trial, they were convicted and awarded life sentence.

Recalling the judgment, the then judge of the special TADA court D Krishnappa told Deccan Herald that the accused - Meesekara Madaiah, Simon, Bilavendra and Gnanap­rakashan had remained calm throughout the hearing, even on the judgment day.
The charges were proved after recording the statement of 304 witnesses and adducing 654 evidences.

There were a total of seven charges against them, killing 22 police personnel including Superintendent of Police P Harikrishna and sub-inspector Shakeel Ahmed, after blasting a bridge near Palar. Charges were framed against them in all these cases.
Obviously disappointed, they moved Supreme Court, where they were awarded death sentence.

It was one of the few cases speedily disposed of by the Court, specially constituted to try  TADA cases.

The Principal and sessions court judge was also the judge of the TADA court. M Nagaraj, who passed away recently, was the public prosecutor in the case.