A sessions court in Mysore on Saturday deferred an order on Tamil activist Kolathur Mani's bail plea to Monday.

Mani is yet to get bail in two cases and his counsel T Prakash had filed a bail petition before sessions Judge A T Monali.

Veerappan had specifically asked that Mani be sent as an emissary before November 30 to negotiate terms and conditions for Janata Dal (U) leader and Karnataka ex-minister H Nagappa's release.

With the brigand's deadline having expired last week, the Karnataka government is desperate.

While government counsel Thimmarayappa did not oppose the bail plea, two practising advocates Shivannegwoda and Ramakrishna asked the court not to release Mani.

They argued that if Mani is released on bail, he might be arrested by the Tamil Nadu government leading to more legal problems.

The Tamil Nadu police have five cases against Mani. His arrest would jeopardise the Karnataka government's efforts to secure Nagappa's release.

Meanwhile, Kollegal munsif court judge Nataraja Dhoolappnavar has reported received a threatening letter asking him to 'be prepared for death'. The judge had on Saturday last week denied bail to Mani in two cases.

The judge has handed over the letter to the district police.

The Veerappan saga: Complete Coverage