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12 Aug 2026, 6:19 pm

On July 30, 2000, as families across the state observed the festival, forest brigand Veerappan walked into Dr Rajkumar's farmhouse in Gajanur and abducted the Kannada cinema icon. What followed was a 108-day hostage crisis that gripped Karnataka, tested the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and left millions praying for the actor's safe return.

Dr Rajkumar had travelled to Gajanur after a newly dug borewell struck water at his ancestral property. Around 9.30 pm, shortly after dinner, armed men entered the farmhouse. Minutes later, Veerappan reportedly walked in and told the actor, "Ayya, let's go."

Before leaving, Veerappan handed Parvathamma Rajkumar an audio cassette addressed to then Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna. It contained his demands and an assurance that Rajkumar would not be harmed. The actor was taken into the forests along with his son-in-law Govindaraju, relative Nagesh and associate Nagappa.

Parvathamma immediately set out for Bengaluru, stopping briefly in Mysuru before reaching the Chief Minister's residence in the early hours of the morning. The cassette triggered an emergency meeting of senior ministers, police officials and bureaucrats, marking the beginning of one of the state's biggest rescue efforts.

The abduction brought Karnataka to a standstill. Shops shut, transport services were disrupted and anxious fans gathered outside Rajkumar's Bengaluru residence. The crisis also became a major challenge for Chief Ministers S M Krishna and M Karunanidhi as both governments worked to secure the actor's release.

Over the following weeks, Veerappan sent a series of audio cassettes outlining his demands. Journalist R R Gopal, editor of Nakkheeran, acted as the intermediary, making several trips into the forests while carrying messages between Veerappan and the two governments.

Despite spending more than three months in captivity, Dr Rajkumar reportedly remained calm, continuing his daily yoga and pranayama. His humility and composure are believed to have earned Veerappan's respect during the prolonged ordeal.

On November 15, 2000, after 108 days in captivity, Dr Rajkumar was released unharmed. His return sparked celebrations across Karnataka, bringing an end to one of the most emotional chapters in the state's history. The incident has also been documented on the big screen. In 2013, filmmaker A M R Ramesh directed Attahasa, a film based on the life of Veerappan, with Dr Rajkumar's abduction forming one of its central episodes.

Even today, every Bhimana Amavasya revives memories of that anxious wait and the 108 days that united Karnataka in hope for the return of its beloved Annavru.