The government, facing criticism from the Congress for prematurely releasing the convicts of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, has moved the Supreme Court.
The Central Government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court in this matter. The Central Government says that despite being a party in the matter, the order has been passed without giving it adequate opportunity of being heard.
The government termed this as a procedural lapse and stated that the convicts seeking release did not formally implead the Center as a party, resulting in non-participation of the Government of India in the trial.
Last week all the convicts were released
Supreme Court had last week directed the premature release of the remaining six convicts, including Nalini Sriharan and RP Ravichandran, in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The court said that the convicts have been in jail for more than 30 years and their behavior during the sentence was fine.
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu by a female suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu.
Understand the matter in a chronological manner
21 May 1991: Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu by a female suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu.
May 24, 1991: The investigation of the case was handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
June 11, 1991: CBI arrested AG Perarivalan (19), booked under Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA).
January 28, 1998: TADA court awards death sentence to 26 accused including Perarivalan.
May 11, 1999: The Supreme Court upheld the conviction and sentence of Perarivalan.
October 8, 1999: Supreme Court dismisses Perarivalan’s review petition.
April 2020: The Governor of Tamil Nadu commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment on the recommendation of the State Government and on the appeal of former Congress President and Rajiv Gandhi’s wife Sonia Gandhi.
August 12, 2011: Perarivalan filed a mercy petition before the President under Article 72 of the Constitution, which was rejected. Thereafter, Perarivalan filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court.
May 1, 2012: High Court transfers the case to the Supreme Court.
February 18, 2014: The Supreme Court commutes the death sentence of Perarivalan as well as two other prisoners—Santhan and Murugan—to life imprisonment on the ground that the Center delayed considering their mercy petitions for 11 years.
December 30, 2015: Perarivalan filed a petition under Article 161 of the Constitution for commutation of his sentence.
September 9, 2018: The Tamil Nadu cabinet passes a resolution recommending Perarivalan’s release, which is sent to the governor.
January 25, 2021: The Supreme Court released Perarivalan on bail considering he had spent more than 31 years in jail.
18 May 2022: The Supreme Court, using the powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, ordered the release of Perarivalan.
12 August 2022: Nalini Sriharan and Ravichandran approached the Supreme Court and requested for premature release.
26 September 2022: Supreme Court issues notice to Centre, Tamil Nadu government on Nalini and Ravichandran’s application for premature release.
November 11, 2022: The Supreme Court, while directing the premature release of the remaining six convicts in the case, including Nalini Sriharan and Ravichandran, said that the Tamil Nadu government has recommended reducing their imprisonment.
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