'No ransom was paid'
November 24, 2000, 1300 hours IST, Bangalore: Puneet Rajakumar, the youngest son of Kannada thespian Dr Rajakumar, started the chat half an hour late. But he was flooded with questions on the condition of the actor and the deal, if any, struck with bandit Veerappan to secure the release of the hostage. Puneet gallantly stayed on to answer as many as he could, and in the bargain replied to far more than is usually done on the Chats.
ashokuh (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:6 PST)
hello sir,
do u really feel that govt will nag veerapsn
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:17 PST)
Ashokuh, do you really feel that?
NISHANTPARIKH (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:9 PST)
SIR
I THINK GOVT. IS THE ONLY RESPONSIBLE ENTITY FOR YOU. WHAT DO YOU THINK FOR THIS
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:19 PST)
Nishant, we are not in a position to analyse right now who is behind all this.
Ratan (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:11 PST)
Sir will u now seek revenge against Veerappan? or are u scared of him?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:21 PST)
Ratan, first of all I wish he cd cd have tried this in our State. If I cd get an opportunity, I wd myself love to have the honour to take revenge on him. I am certainly not scared of him. If only he cd come to me man to man...
krishnan (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:20 PST)
hello, was your dad really kidnapped by veerappan, or was it a drama made to make your dad publicity, so as to enter politics
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:22 PST)
Krishnan, if my father wanted to enter into politics, he wd have done so 30 yrs ago! Our family and the people of Karnataka wd not have gone the worst three and a half months. We hate politics!
Veerappan (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:22 PST)
Puneet, dont you think it was silly of you to grow your beard when ur dad was kidnapped? would it have helped anyway? more like a publicity stunt na?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:24 PST)
Veerappan, I wish you wd have gone thru the same phase.
srihari (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:22 PST)
Has your father not behaved irresponsibly by refusing police security and thereby caused untold misery to us ? Karnataka's name is mud because of this incident.
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:25 PST)
Srihari, if in case we had taken the security of two gun men, they wd have been an encounter taken place. It wd have been worse. And, it is the duty of Karnataka police to keep an eye on icon of K'ka in a professional way. So I blame the K'ka police on this concern.
Vas (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:25 PST)
Hi Punneet,
There is a strong news going around that 'cause u guys didn't pay ransom to Virappan in some granite deal, Raj was kidnapped and as Virappan received the ransom now, Raj is out. Is this true. This news is from a authenticated source.
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:27 PST)
Vas, first of all, my investment in granite was around 3-3 and half lakhs, it was my personal business to start. And I have always dealt only in Kanakapura, never outside. Even for the people to feel this, they shd be some common sense because uyou shd really go thru the other demands. It was a plan of 10 years of Veerappan. I have nothing to do with this issue. I have stopped my granite business more than 2 yrs ago.
sridhar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:27 PST)
Hi Puneet,
How is your father doing after the whole kidnapping episode. What is his feel?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:29 PST)
Sridhar, father is feeling much better now. There r so many fans in lakhs coming to see him every day, and that is making him feel really happy. He is also back with all of us, also which makes him feel happy.
srihari (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:26 PST)
How is Rajkumar more Kannadiga than Veerappan ? Your father was born in TN, while Veerappan was born in Karnataka.
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:31 PST)
Srihari, my father was actually born in Singanallur, even Gajanur was in Karnataka. Then too it does not concern either TN or K'ka, this whole issue. Actually, we were all in Madras for 30 yrs!
Bijapuri (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:26 PST)
Anyway now that bad phase is over. Will our enthu team help to capture and bring him to custody
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:31 PST)
Bijapuri, if there was anythiug we cd do, we wd be the first to come through with it.
srihari (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:29 PST)
If the police is all the time keeping an eye on 'icons', what happens to the normal citizens. By the way, what has your father done for K'taka apart from acting in movies and making money for himself and his family ?
Veerappan (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:30 PST)
What did Rajkumar do to Karnataka which Rajnikanth did to Tamil Nadu? Nothing...why are people still like fools running after him?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:33 PST)
Veerappan, you shd go and ask the people of K'ka not me what my father did for them, not ask me. You shd ask this question in public somewhere, and you will get the perfect answer from the people!
ram (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:34 PST)
there are strong romurs that this kidnap took place because of puneet rajkumar cheating people there
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:35 PST)
Ram, I really don't have the intention to cheat anybody. I feel this impression might have been created through the media. It will always remain a rumour, never the truth. Even you must be having a father.
anita (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:34 PST)
Puneet: What was the deal..Be honest..do we have to really believe whatever your father and Dr Bhanu said?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:35 PST)
Anita, my father never lies. Thats why he is where je is today.
Girish Gowda (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:35 PST)
Shivraj said "Gandhi was the father of India" and "Rajkumar is the father of Karnataka" Was it a joke???
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:36 PST)
Girish, I really don't know abt others. Thats what the people of K'ka feel abt my father. Perhaps you shd go and ask the public whether they feel this way.
wowgiri (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:35 PST)
Now that Dr Raj is free, would he vere go back to Gajanur again?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:37 PST)
wowgiri, yes we wd be planning a trip to Gajanur by January 1st week.
rajeb (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:34 PST)
I'm raj's fan from USA, I woke up in this hour to chat with you.
I though Raj would have ordered to kill all tamilians in blore after his release. but he didn't. i'm disapponited
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:38 PST)
Rajeb, we shd never blame Tamils staying here in K'ka for this issue, because there were a lot of Tamils here who were like Kannadigas for this particular issue.
journo (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:34 PST)
There are allegations, dear puneet that Dr Raj has done nothing for Karnataka, so why all the hue and cry over him..what do you say?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:39 PST)
Journo, once agn I tell you, you shd go and ask the people of Karnataka this : its not I who shd answer.
Girish Gowda (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:39 PST)
I am a dire fan of Rajkumar. But I feel Rajanna should have a take an example of what Rajanikanth is doing to Tamils. Rajanna can drive charity like no other person in karnataka. Not by his wealth. But by his great personality.
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:40 PST)
Girish, I hope u r following the truth abt Dr Raj. We wd not like to expose our charity to the people.
Mark Robbins London Times (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:40 PST)
Hi, I'm the London Times correspondent based in Delhi. Many people think Sa Ra Govindu and his hoods are funded by your family to keep your names in the newspapers. Does it make any sense for your father to be associated with such people ?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:42 PST)
Mr Robbins, all these are just rumours. We don't really keep our names in the papers. People come to us for it.
satya (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:42 PST)
If Veerappan kidnapped any other common kanndiga then whether u wud have shown the same josh what u have shown after ur father was kidnapped
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:42 PST)
Satya, if they had asked our help, we wd certainly have done it.
Ravichandra (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:42 PST)
Hi puneet,This is Ravi from Hyderabad.What is the mental status of our beloved Rajkumarji now!!.Why he had giving different statements.
Ravi
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:44 PST)
Ravichandra, there were definitely no different statememnnts given. Maybe you read different papers, and they differed from each other.
Raghavendra (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:43 PST)
During the press conference addressed by Dr. Raj , why was he interrupted in the between and not allowed him to talk with his heart open ... I smell something fishy .. what do u say abt this ???
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:44 PST)
Raghavendra, when u r happy with success, stop smelling something fishy!
Amit (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:44 PST)
Mr. Puneet what would u do if you were in place of your father?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:46 PST)
Amit, I wd wish to do same thing that my father did. I really wish I cd be in his place. I wd not really be hurt so much now.
mulla nasruddin (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:46 PST)
Puneet, What was the ransom paid?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:46 PST)
Mulla, there was no ransom paid.
rr (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:46 PST)
Hi Puneet, Paper reports showed that your family was dissatisied by Nagappa's act, dosn't he has the right to save his life?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:47 PST)
rr, we were unhappy abt what he did. But he has the right to do what he thought best. We have never questioned this anywhere.
ashwin (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:47 PST)
who
is bhanu?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:48 PST)
Ashwin, we got to know who is Bhanu only when we our father was released. I think u shd ask the Govt.
ramya (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:47 PST)
what happened in the jungles when ur father was there. was he threatned
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:49 PST)
Ramya, he was never threatened. Probably that was one of the things which kept us strong for 108 days.
gautam (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:49 PST)
Hi Puneet,
Was 50 crore really paid for the release?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:49 PST)
Gautam, there was no cash ransom paid at all.
mulla nasruddin (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:49 PST)
What has been your dads experience in the Jungle. Usual activities like Sleeping, washing, what was he always thinking?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:50 PST)
Mulla, I wd be giving literature to Rediff. Pls go thru it then.
Girish Gowda (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:49 PST)
I live in Singapore. When I visit Bangalore, none of my kannadiga friends want to go to a Kannada movie. What is happening to Kannada Film Industry after Raj. What is Raj planning to do.
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:50 PST)
Girish, then u shd watch Shabdavedi.
waj (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:50 PST)
What is you Dad opinon on Veerapan. Did at any point of time veerapan misbehaved with your father. How did he treat your father.
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:51 PST)
Waj, he always treated him with respect. But the thing is it is always living with a criminal
raja (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:52 PST)
Puneet, Explain what's Nedumaran's role in releasing ur father?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:53 PST)
Raja, they wanted an assurance from Nedumaran. Thats all.
polly (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:53 PST)
why did you not engage guards at gajanur house when you knew that there was a threat? you could very well afford to engage the guards? why do you expect the police to guard you?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:55 PST)
Polly, first of all, we had an information that there was a threat on us. But just before the incident took place, we had gone there a couple of times. And also, how can you afford to have that kind of guards without Govt support?
skandesh (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:55 PST)
Where is Nagappa?Is he being given a StepMotherly treatment for escaping?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:56 PST)
Skandesh, he is the hands of the police security.
niru (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:55 PST)
As long as people of Karnataka and Tamilnadu elect such xxxxx pliticians one after another all good people will be abducted by Virappan and Co. Shame on all of us all Indians who although proudly claim to be a democratic country , we are absolutely weak country with no control over law and order or any damn thing.
Unless and until we all become honest and elect good our representatives to lead us, we'll never overcome our miseries
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:57 PST)
Niru, yes I really follow that. I feel that all of us shd follow the law and order, and elect the correct people.
B N GUPTA (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:57 PST)
I feel now Mr Rajkumar should mediate between Veerappan and government to convince veerappan to surrender. Will he act like that ?
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:58 PST)
B N Gupta, he tried but Veerappan wwas not ready to surrender.
Raghavendra Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:57 PST)
Puneet, Your father has made sufficent money.... What has he done for Karnataka? Has he built any Temple, School???? But yes, he has Plenty of "Farm House"...
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 0:59 PST)
Raghavendra Rajakumar, are you still thinking of temples? We don't really expose what we do. If u wd like to know, u shd go and ask the fans.
cgg (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 1:0 PST)
there was romour that when nagappa escaped from bandit, was assulted by your brothers in closed door. Nagappa is absconding till now. People of karnataka doesn't differentiate between nagappa or raj kumar when humanity is concerned
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 1:1 PST)
cgg, this is just the story created by Kannada newspapers. Nothing more.
Puneet Rajakumar (Fri Nov 24, 2000, 1:1 PST)
OK, everyone, do forgive me for being a bit late and not also being able to respond to every question. I must rush now, so goodbye and thanks for all the concern and love you showed for my father and our family. Goodbye.
| 
