Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: SC orders release of all 6 convicts

The Supreme Court has ordered the release of six convicts, including Nalini Sriharan and RP Ravichandran, in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

All six are currently serving life imprisonment after being found guilty in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The court said its May 18 2022 judgment ordering the releasing another accused A G Perarivalan applied in the case of remaining convicts too.

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier recommended their release to the Governor, the Supreme Court said. All the accused were found to have maintained a good conduct in jail.

They all acquired various degrees during their stay in jail. All of them have spent over 23 years in jail.

The seven convicts in the case were Nalini Sriharan, Murugan, Santhan, AG Perarivalan, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, and P Ravichandran.

In May, Perarivalavan was released from the prison but the remaining six convicts were serving their prison terms in Tamil Nadu prisons.

In two separate affidavits, the Tamil Nadu government had told the top court that in a cabinet meeting held on September 9, 2018, it had considered mercy petitions of seven convicts in the case and resolved to recommend the governor for remission of their life sentences invoking the power granted under Article 161 of the Constitution.