Muthulakshmi (Veerappan’s Wife) Age, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Muthulakshmi

• Muthulakshmi is an Indian politician and the widow of Veerappan, the notorious dacoit and sandalwood smuggler. Veerappan was killed by the Special Task Force police in 2004 as part of ‘Operation Cocoon.’

• In January 1990, Muthulakshmi married Veerappan. From a young age, Veerappan had made a firm decision to stay away from intoxicants and relationships with women, considering them as potential distractions. However, fate had other plans, as he found himself inexplicably drawn to Muthulakshmi. Despite his best intentions, Veerappan couldn’t resist visiting her village frequently.

• Muthulakshmi quickly noticed Veerappan’s frequent presence in her village and was captivated by his striking features, such as his bristling moustache, intense gaze, and commanding demeanour which earned both respect and fear from the villagers. His mysterious aura left a strong impression on her, and she couldn’t help but respond positively to his attention.

• However, Muthulakshmi’s parents did not approve of her relationship with Veerappan, and her father even told him that she was already engaged to one of her cousins. Despite the rejection, Veerappan was determined to be with her. He eloped with Muthulakshmi, and they got married in a forest temple in January 1990.

• During her pregnancy, Muthulakshmi lived in the forest with Veerappan for eight months, but as her delivery neared, she decided to return to her parents’ home. Fearing arrest, her father took her to Chennai, where she surrendered to the police. She was then placed in a women’s hostel and gave birth to a baby girl, named Vidya Rani by an STF officer named Sylendra Babu.

• Although she was allowed to go back to her parents’ home in Neruppur, her movements were closely monitored by the authorities. One day, a man claiming to be a relative visited Muthulakshmi, but he was actually one of Veerappan’s men. He delivered a message from Veerappan, urging her to leave the baby with her parents and return to the jungle because he missed her. However, Muthulakshmi found it incredibly difficult to part with her child. She resisted Veerappan’s command for a couple of months, but eventually, she realized that her baby would have a better life in the village than in the forest.

• One night, she secretly left Neruppur and reunited with Veerappan in the jungle.

• Following Veerappan’s death in 2004, Muthulakshmi endured an incredibly challenging time. Depressed by his death, she made an attempt to take her life by consuming phenyl. However, she received timely medical attention at a nearby hospital, and the harmful substance was removed from her body. Later on, a police officer named Tamilselvan came to her aid and helped her secure a job at Vasudeva Textiles, a textile mill in Coimbatore, where she earned Rs 25 per day.

• For three years, from 1995 to 1998, she worked there, keeping her true identity a secret from everyone. She described this phase as one of the most difficult periods in her life. Despite her legs being injured from past encounters with the police, she had to work long hours, feeling isolated and finding it challenging to connect with others around her.

• In 2006, Muthulakshmi contested as an independent candidate in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, representing the Pennagaram constituency.
  

  Muthulakshmi in a political rally

• In 2013, she took legal action against filmmaker A.M.R. Ramesh for inaccurately portraying her late husband in the Kannada film ‘Attahasa.’ Her efforts were successful, and she was awarded a compensation of Rs 25 lakhs even before the film’s release.

• In January 2018, she took a step further and established an organization named ‘Mann Kaakkum Veerathamizhar Peramaippu.’ The main purpose of this organization was to advocate for government support in providing fresh water for agriculture and to assist farmers.

• Additionally, she set up a self-help group named “Malaival Makkal Urimai Iyakkam” to offer assistance to underprivileged villagers residing along the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

• Muthulakshmi has actively engaged in various social service activities, particularly in supporting individuals who faced challenges due to Veerappan’s actions.

• On 31 March 2019, she took a significant step in her public service journey by joining the political party Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, furthering her commitment to advocacy and serving the community.