Veerapan's close aide gets one-day parole after 21 years

COIMBATORE: Forest brigand Veerappan's close aide J Gnanaprakasam, 60, was granted one-day parole after 21 years, to travel from Mysore central prison to Sandanapalayam in Kollegal Taluk, Karnataka, on Saturday to perform last rites for his father, Joseph.
He was unable to get parole in 2003 to attend his 17-year-old daughter Irudhaya Periyanayaki Ammal's funeral, as Veerappan was alive and active in the forest.
"Gnanaprakasam was sentenced to death by the apex court. He submitted a mercy petition before the President of India Pranab Mukherji who rejected it last year. Meanwhile, Supreme Court Chief Justice P Sathasivam has reduced the death sentence to life term.
"His father Joseph, 87, died a few days ago and I submitted a petition before the Mysore central prison authorities who granted Gananprakasam one-day parole," said A Julius, secretary of advocate wing, Dravidar Kazhagam.
Gnanaprakasam came to his residence at 2.30pm on Saturday and returned to Mysore prison at 3.30pm. "For the first time in 21 years, he has come out on bail," said Julius. His family was filled with tears when they saw him at the funeral, he added.
On April 9, 1993, forest brigand Veerappan and his accomplices planted a landmine at Suraikaimaduvu near Palar. More than 22 people including police, forest officials and public were killed in the blast.
Gnanaprakasam was arrested on May 31, 1993 in connection with the case at Thomaiyarpalayam village, Kollegal Taluk in Karnataka.
As many as 124 people were arrested in connection with the case by the Karnataka Special Task Force police and all of them were produced before Mysore sessions court. The case was transferred to the Mysore TADA court following which 72 people were released on bail and 38 people were cleared from the case. Seven people got life imprisonment on September 29, 2001.
They appealed to the Supreme Court which released three of them. Gnanaprakasam was one of the four who did not get relieved from the death sentence. His mercy petition was rejected on February 11, 2013 by the president of India