Operation Cocoon was an operation launched by the Special Task Force of Tamil Nadu Police to capture the forest brigand Veerappan and his associates, who were dominant in Sathyamangalam Forest in the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.

For over a decade, Veerappan defied the state governments of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and Indian Border security paramilitary forces, and maintained a small army, which at one point numbered hundreds.

While his initial days of dacoity were restricted to satisfying his financial needs, his later actions included demand of release of militants from jail in exchange of the hostages.

During the subsequent years, he killed tens of police officers and tribal people, whom he felt, were against his illegal trade.

In 1997, he kidnapped Karnataka forest officers and after lot of negotiations with Nakkeeran editor Gopal, he released them.

A reward of ₹50 million (US$580,000) was offered for Veerappan's capture, yet he evaded arrest for 20 years until he was killed by police in 2004.

[10] The joint Special Task Force (STF) operation to apprehend Veerappan, instituted in 1991 by the state government's of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, is considered one of the costliest in Indian history, consuming ₹1 billion over the years.

STF personnel infiltrated as hawkers, masons and local service staff in the villages where Veerappan was supposedly roaming.

Veerapan was planning to travel to South Arcot, to receive medical treatment for his eye, and needed to leave the forest.

[9] On the day of the operation, Veerapan was escorted out of the forest to an ambulance stationed at Papirappati village in Dharmapuri district.

After the operation, the STF recovered 12 bore Remington pump action gun, two AK-47, a self-loading rifle, two hand grenades and cash worth ₹3.5 lakhs.

The tourism involved trek through the vast BR and MM hills and a narration of the places where Veerapan lived and held people in hostage by a trained local guide.

After the operation, Kumar became the Chief of the CRPF and currently serves as Senior Security Advisor to the Home Ministry of India.

Veerappan's widow, Muthulakshmi, filed a case in a sessions court stating that the telecast would demean her family.