India kidnap release blocked

The bandit Veerappan (left) is a tough negotiator

India's Supreme Court has blocked plans by two southern states to release comrades of the bandit who has held Indian film idol Rajkumar captive for three months.

Our prima facie view (is) that the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments acted in panic

Indian Supreme Court ruling

The governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had decided to meet the demand of the bandit Veerappan for the release of nearly 60 jailed comrades.

But the father of a policeman killed by Veerappan's gang challenged the decision in the Supreme Court, arguing that it was unconstitutional, and won.

The BBC Delhi correspondent Jill McGivering says this means there is little sign of this long-running hostage drama being resolved soon.

Kidnap timeline

30 July: Rajkumar kidnapped from his farmhouse

28 August: Charges against 121 Veerappan associates dropped

1 September: Supreme Court puts on hold release of Veerappan associates

7 November: Supreme court rules against releasing Veerappan associates.

Reacting to the ruling, the Karnataka state Chief Minister, SM Krishna, said he would honour the decision.

However, he said he would call an all-party meeting to take stock of the situation.

Relatives and supporters of the film star, who is revered in his home state, have been pressing the authorities to resolve the crisis.

Negotiations continue

Four emissaries negotiating with Veerappan were due to leave for the forests on the borders of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka later on Tuesday to continue talks.

Veerappan, one of India's most wanted men, has made a series of demands including the release of his comrades in return for freeing the film star.

A son-in-law of Rajkumar, SA Govindraju, who was freed by Veerappan last month, later told journalists that the bandit would not back down on his demands.

The two state governments which have been negotiating Rajkumar's release initially accepted Veerappan's terms.

Rajkumar (centre) has been held for 100 days

But the Supreme Court criticised the speed with which they had caved in to pressure from the bandit.

"Our prima facie view that the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments acted in panic, without thinking about the repercussions, stands reinforced," the Supreme Court said last week.

Rajkumar is being held in a remote hideout deep in a forest straddling the two southern states.

Veerappan is charged with murdering more than 100 people and is also wanted for elephant poaching and sandalwood smuggling.