Bail to Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination convict: Perarivalan, imprisoned for 32 years, will be released, Supreme Court gives relief due to good behavior

AG Perarivalan, convicted in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, has got bail from the Supreme Court. He will be released soon. He was given life imprisonment. He has already served 32 years in prison. The court has granted him bail on the grounds of good conduct, educational qualification and illness. In this case, 7 people were given life imprisonment. Of these, 6 are still in jail.

On the petition of 47-year-old Perarivalan, two Justices L. Nageswara Rao and BR Gavai heard the matter. Hearing the petition, the court said that the convict has been in jail for more than 30 years. His conduct during the period of parole has been satisfactory. We are of the view that he should be released on bail.

Court made strong remarks on Tamil Nadu Governor
Perarivalan had filed a bail plea in the apex court. Perarivalan said in his petition that the Tamil Nadu government had ordered his release, but the governor and the central government were not accepting it. The court expressed displeasure over this stand of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and questioned him regarding the recommendation of release.

The Supreme Court said in a stern tone that does the Governor of the state have any discretion in this matter? The court criticized the decision of the Governor, in which the Governor sent the recommendation of the state government to the President after about two and a half years.

SC grants bail to Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict Perarivalan

President has the right to take decisions: Governor
Seven people, including Perarivalan, were sentenced to death by TADA and the Supreme Court for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. After which all the convicts filed mercy petition in the court. The hearing in the mercy petition was delayed, due to which the court had converted the death sentence to life imprisonment.

After this, the Tamil Nadu government passed a resolution to abolish and release his life imprisonment. After which the matter went to the Governor and later to the President. According to the Governor, the President has the right to take any kind of decision.

Governor is not taking any decision- Court
Hearing the petition, the court said that even after the approval of the state government, the governor is not taking any decision nor is passing any order. The court said that if the governor does not decide on such matters, then we will take a decision on Perarivalan’s bail. Here, Perarivalan told the court that he is following the rule of parole and is at home. He told the court that he was complying with all the conditions of parole, in which case he should be granted bail.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on 21 May 1991
Rajiv Gandhi had gone to address an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu on 21 May 1991. During this, a woman named Dhanu killed him in a suicide attack. 14 people including Dhanu were killed. This was the biggest suicide attack ever in the history of India in which a high profile leader was killed.

Gandhi was assassinated on the night of May 21, 1991 in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu by a female suicide bomber, identified at an election rally as Dhanu. In May 1999, the top court convicted seven people, including Perarivalan, Murugan, Santham and Nalini.