Veerappan Biography: Net Worth, Parents, Age, Wife, Children, Height, Death

Koose Muniswamy Veerappan, commonly known as Veerappan, was a notorious Indian bandit, poacher, and smuggler.

Under the mentorship of his uncle, he began his criminal activities with sandalwood and ivory smuggling, later gaining infamy for poaching elephants and committing violent crimes, including the killing of police officers and forest officials.

Veerappan was also responsible for high-profile kidnappings, notably that of Kannada film star Rajkumar and former Karnataka minister H. Nagappa.

His criminal reign came to an end on October 18, 2004, when the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force killed him.

Profile

• Full Name: Koose Muniswamy Veerappan
• Stage Name: Veerappan
• Born: January 18, 1952,
• Died: October 18, 2004
• Age: 52 years old
• Birthplace: Gopinatham, India
• Nationality: Indian
• Occupation: Indian notorious Indian bandit, poacher, and smuggler
• Height: Unknown
• Parent: Mr. and Mrs. Muniswamy
• Siblings: Mathaiyan, Arjunan, Mala
• Spouse: Muthulakshmi (m. 1990–2004):
• Children: Prabha, Vidhya Veerappan
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $2 million

Early Life And Education

Koose Muniswamy Veerappan was born on January 18, 1952, in Gopinatham, Mysore (now Karnataka), India. He was born into a financially disadvantaged family of cattle grazers.

While his parents’ names remain undisclosed, they are identified as Mr. and Mrs. Muniswamy. Veerappan had three siblings: Mathaiyan, Arjunan, and Mala.

There is no documented information regarding his formal education. He was of Indian ethnicity, though his religious beliefs were not publicly known.

Career

Veerappan’s involvement in crime began at a remarkably young age. By age 10, he was already associated with the criminal underworld.

At 12, he committed his first primary offense by killing an elephant with the assistance of his uncle, Saalvai Gounder. Gounder, a notorious poacher and sandalwood smuggler, mentored Veerappan, introducing him to the world of illegal trade.

As he grew older, Veerappan expanded his operations, becoming deeply entrenched in sandalwood and ivory smuggling.

Although he was first arrested in 1972, his criminal activities persisted, and he eventually broke away from his uncle to form his gang.

Over the years, Veerappan and his associates were responsible for the poaching of hundreds of elephants for their tusks, solidifying his reputation as one of India’s most feared outlaws.

As his criminal empire expanded, Veerappan became infamous for his violent tactics, targeting police officers, forest officials, and suspected informants.

His most notorious attack was the Palar blast in 1993, in which he orchestrated a landmine explosion that killed 22 police officers and civilians.

In addition to violent ambushes, he carried out high-profile kidnappings, including the abduction of Kannada film star Rajkumar in 2000 and former Karnataka minister H. Nagappa in 2002. These incidents drew nationwide attention and intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies to apprehend him.

Recognizing his growing threat, the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments established a Special Task Force (STF) in 1992 to track and capture him.

However, despite multiple encounters and relentless pursuit, Veerappan managed to elude capture for over a decade.

After years of extensive manhunts, the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force successfully ambushed and killed Veerappan on October 18, 2004. Posing as civilians, officers lured him into an ambulance driven by a disguised policeman, where they executed their final operation. With his death, an era of terror that spanned several decades came to an end, bringing closure to one of India’s longest and most elusive criminal pursuits.

Social Media

Veerappan does not have social media accounts.

Personal Life

Veerappan married Muthulakshmi in 1990, and she became actively involved in many of his criminal activities.

Over the years, she was arrested multiple times for her alleged participation in crimes, including the high-profile kidnapping of Kannada actor Rajkumar and the deadly Palar blast.

Despite his notoriety, Veerappan maintained a family life and had two daughters, Vidya Rani, born in 1990, and Prabha, born in 1993.

Net Worth

Veerappan’s net worth at the time of his death was estimated to be around ₹150 crores (approximately USD 2 million), though some reports speculated it could be as high as ₹2,000 crores.

His wealth primarily stemmed from illegal activities, including ivory and sandalwood smuggling, high-profile kidnappings for ransom, and the illicit arms trade.

He amassed significant financial resources through these operations while evading law enforcement for decades.