Rajiv Gandhi killer Nalini’s petition rejected by Supreme Court

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, October 27, 2014: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition filed by one of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassins, Nalini Sriharan, for her early release after having served more than 14 years in jail.

Nalini is currently incarcerated in the Vellore Central Prison in Tamil Nadu. Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran are the other convicts undergoing life sentence for their role in the assassination of Gandhi.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of co-accused Sri Lankan nationals Murugan and Santhan and also of AG Perarivalan, who is an Indian in connection with the 1991 killing of Gandhi during an election rally. Their sentences were commuted on the grounds that there had been a delay in the Centre’s decision over their mercy pleas.

The release of four others, who had been given life sentences for the assassination, was also announced by the Tamil Nadu government led by former chief minister Jayalalithaa, citing provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. However, the Supreme Court rejected their release and constituted a Constitutional Bench to look into the matter.

The former Prime Minister’s assassins were convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act in January 1998. Three of the accused had been awarded the death sentence and four were given life sentence.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in a suicide bomb attack in Tamil Nadu’s Sriperumbedur district on May 21, 1991.

 

Courtesy: Indiatoday