The Lasting Woe of Veerappan’s Widow

We really don’t know how it was being his wife, but being Veerappan’s widow is not easy.

We really don’t know how it was being his wife, but being Veerappan’s widow is not easy. In 2004, the notorious sandalwood smuggler was killed in an encounter by Karnataka’s special task force. Four years after his death, Muthulakhsmi was booked under Tada.  Last week, she was acquitted in all five cases against her by a court in Karnataka. Almost immediately, she was picked up by the Tamil Nadu police. Agni Subramaniam of the Chennai-based human rights group Manikkam, which has been fighting for her release, says, “There is no chargesheet, so she will be released soon.” Muthulakshmi has two daughters, both studying in Chennai.