Veerappan's wife against financial help to daughter

Days after her daugther was allowed by a court to live with her husband, slain sandalwood smuggler Veerappan's wife Muthulakshmi today asked the family's wellwishers not to extend any financial support to the girl.

Claiming that her daughter Vidya Rani, 21, had been brainwashed by her husband Maria Deepak, Muthulakshmi told reporters in Salem that she had approached some people for financial support to continue her college education.

She alleged that Deepak was unemployed and spending her daughter's money. Deepak and Rani had married in March last.

Muthulakshmi said she was prepared to help Rani continue her education if she returned to live with her.

On September 28, the Madras High Court gave Rani the liberty to live with Deepak after she submitted that her mother was not allowing her to go with him though she was a major.

Union Minister S Jagathratchagan has sponsored the education of Vidya Rani, who is doing her final year BA in a Chennai college.