SC’s Notice To TN, Centre On Convict’s Release Pleas in Rajiv Gandhi Assassination

Guwahati: The Supreme Court (SC) sent notices to the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre in response to appeals from prisoners Nalini Sriharan and P Ravichandran, who are serving life sentences for their roles in the murder of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and who are pleading for the release of their prison-like co-convict AG Perarivalan on Monday.

The petition was scheduled for hearing on October 14 after Justices BR Gavai and BV Nagarathna’s bench requested a response from the governments on the arguments. “Notice. Due to his prior appearance in a related suit, freedom was given to Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj and the server standing attorneys for Tamil Nadu and the Union of India “The bench ordered in its ruling.

In their petition to the Supreme Court, Nalini and Ravichandran cited the ruling in which co-convict AG Perarivalan was freed.

Both had previously petitioned the Madras High Court for the same relief, but the High Court had turned down their request.

When rejecting the plea, the Madras High Court held that it lacked the extraordinary authority granted to the Supreme Court by Article 142 of the Indian Constitution. Since the Supreme Court released Perarivalan in May 2022, it cannot mandate their release.

If their argument hinged on Perarivalan’s release, the High Court had stated that they might go to the Supreme Court.

Ravichandran, who has been imprisoned for 30 years, requested temporary release while his formal release case is being resolved.

One of the seven people convicted in the assassination case, AG Perarivalan, was released on May 18 when the Supreme Court invoked its exceptional powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.

Following Perarivalan’s release, Ravichandran had sent a letter to Chief Minister MK Stalin seeking the release of the remaining six convicts, including him and mentioned that the Governor has kept the files of release without consideration for over three years which he condemns as an anti-constitutional approach.

Deciding Perarivalan’s request for premature release from jail based on the recommendation provided by the Tamil Nadu government in September 2018, the Supreme Court ordered his freedom, while the six other convicts remain in jail.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu, at a poll rally.

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