Bandit insists on prisoner releases

Several attempts have been made to negotiate a release

The bandit who kidnapped Indian film idol Rajkumar has repeated demands for the release of his jailed associates, according to a hostage who has been freed.

SA Govindraju: Freed on health grounds

Veerappan freed SA Govindraju, Rajkumar's son-in-law, on health grounds late on Monday.

Another hostage escaped last month.

Mr Govindraju told journalists in Bangalore that the bandit would not back down on his demand for the release of his jailed associates.

"Veerappan is still insisting on the release of 51 prisoners and five extremists," he said.

Veerappan, who has been holding Rajkumar captive in southern India for 10 weeks, has made a series of demands including his comrades' release.

Court order

The state government's of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, which have been negotiating Rajkumar's release, had initially accepted Veerappan's terms.

Rajkumar (centre) has been held for 10 weeks

But they received a setback when the Supreme Court barred the move.

The court was due to deliver a verdict in the matter on Tuesday but has now delayed its judgement by a day.

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

Mr Govindraju said the hostages had been moved around frequently to avoid being detected.

Although there have been calls for police action, Rajkumar's son Shivraj cautioned against any such move.

"We cannot risk the life of my father. Both the governments must sit and talk. What decisions they take must be favourable to us," he said.

Veerappan is one of India's most wanted men.

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