Stalin grants 30 days parole for Rajiv convict on medical grounds

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday ordered grant of 30 days parole to A G Perarivalan, one of the seven life convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, on medical grounds.

Based on a request made by the convict's mother D.Arputhammal seeking to grant parole for her son on medical grounds, the Chief Minister favourably considered the plea and ordered grant of ordinary leave for 30 days, by relaxing the rules.

Perarivalan is now lodged in the Puzhal Central Prison.

Though Perarivalan and other convicts have been granted parole on the orders of the court, perhaps, this was for the first time a Chief Minister has directly granted parole to a convict in the case.

It may be recalled that a couple of days after Mr Stalin took over as Chief Minister on May 7, DMK's key allies, MDMK General Secretary and Rajya Sabha Memmber Vaiko and VCK leader and Lok Sabha MP Thol Thirumavalavan urged him to release all the seven life convicts as they have served more than 30 years in prison.

It may be recalled that during the AIADMK regime, the State Cabinet on September nine, 2018, adopted a resolution recommending to the Governor to release all the seven convicts under Article 161 of the Constitution.

The decision to release all the seven convicts was taken in line with the September six, 2018 Supreme Court order.

Based on the Apex Court order, which had asked the Governor to consider the mercy plea of Perarivalan for premature release, the Cabinet had recommended to the Governor to release all the convicts under Article 161 of Constitution.

A Bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Naveen Sinha and K M Joseph had disposed of a plea filed by the Centre opposing the State government's proposal for the release of the convicts, and asked the Governor to consider the mercy plea of Perarivalan.

The Raj Bhavan had on September 15, 2018 said a just and fair decision would be taken in accordance with the Constitution.

It said this was a complex case and involves examination of legal, administration and Constitutional issues and the papers would be processed scrupulously.

Later, when the issue was taken to the Court, the State government said it had got a reply from the Raj Bhavan that it was waiting for the final report of the MDMA which was probing the larger conspiracy angle in the case.

In the meantime, the CBI informed the Supreme Court that Perarivalan has nothing to do with the MDMA probe and his release.

In its 24-page affidavit filed before the Apex Court, the CBI said it was entirely left to Mr Purohit to decide on releasing Perarivalan.

Stating that it has no role whatsoever in the issue, the CBI said the question of remission is wholly between Mr Purohit and Perarivalan.

"It is for the office of His Excellency Governor of Tamil Nadu to take a call on the issue of whether remission is to be granted...So far as relief in the present matter is concerned, CBI has no role," it said.

The CBI said Perarivalan is "not the subject matter of the further investigation carried out by the MDMA".

The CBI also clarified that it did not receive any request from the Governor's office to divulge the status or details of the investigation.

Since then leaders of various political parties were hoping that the Governor would soon take a good decision on the issue.

In November 24, 2020, Mr Stalin had petitioned the Governor seeking the release of the seven life convicts citing the CBI's submission in the Supreme Court.

Mr Stalin said the DMK has been continuously demanding the release of seven convicts--Nalini, V.Sriharan alias Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan, Jayakumar, Robert Pyas and P.Ravichandran--who were undergoing the long endless agony of imprisonment for about 30 years.

Now that there is a change of Guard in the State, the issue has once again come to the Centre stage, with Mr Vaiko and VCK leader Thirumalavalan urging Mr Stalin to order their release. (UNI)