Retired DG&IGP C Dinakar died after a multiple organ failure at a private hospital here in the wee hours of Thursday. He was 77.

Dinakar was the state police chief from April 8, 2000 to February 28, 2001. He was hospitalised a couple of days ago and passed away at around 12.30 am on Thursday. Family sources said the last rites were performed at the Kalpalli cemetery in Indiranagar on Thursday evening.

Many senior officers attended the funeral.

Dinakar was the state police chief when matinee idol Dr Rajkumar was abducted by forest brigand Veerappan and he had a challenging task in maintaining the law and order in the state.

Later, he wrote a book - Veerappan’s Prize Catch: Rajkumar, the kidnap saga - which triggered a controversy. Dinakar had tried to scrap the orderly system in the police department, but later it was re-introduced. After his retirement, he practised law in the High Court.