The crime branch of the Tamil Nadu police on Wednesday raided offices and residences of Tamil magazine Nakkeeran's editor, R R Gopal.

Gopal had negotiated the release of Kannada matinee icon Dr Rajakumar from forest brigand Veerappan's custody in November, 2000 and police believe that he has links with the bandit.

Charged with the possession of an unlicensed weapon and ammunition when arrested on April 11 under the Prevention of Terrorist Act, Gopal has also been accused of supporting banned pan-Tamil militant groups.

Crime branch sleuths searched the Royapettah offices of Gopal's magazine and his Kilpauk residence in Chennai. His family home in Aruppukottai and the Chennai residence of his close aide and Nakkeeran joint editor, A Kamaraj, were also raided.

Kamaraj said the police officials led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Nagarajan, who arrived at the bi-weekly's office at 1100 IST, did not allow the magazine's lawyers to be present during the search operation.

Nakkeeran lawyers later claimed that the police seized only back issues of the magazine and some file photographs of Veerappan.