Rajiv convict Perarivalan likely to get parole soon

The state was also considering the release of convicts, who had served imprisonment for over 10 years as part of the state-sponsored MGR’s birth centenary celebrations. 

Highly-placed sources in the government said that a decision in favour of Perarivalan would be taken before the present session of the Assembly concludes. As for the duration of the parole, the source maintained that it was too early to discuss it. 

“The state cannot sidestep the sentiments of its citizens and that is why our former chief minister J Jayalalithaa locked horns with the Centre taking a unilateral decision to release all the 7–convicts, including Arivu, in the said Rajiv case. The prerogative of the state was contested by the Centre, which took the matter to the Supreme Court and scuttled the release process,” a senior leader from the ruling party said requesting anonymity. 

“If we claim to be running Jayalalithaa’s government and following her legacy, we cannot drift away from the policy decisions she had already made. It is in her footsteps, we are treating the whole issue. And we also want this to be done as per law, so that the efforts fructify the way we want it without any hindrances,” the leader added. 

Earlier on Saturday, Palaniswami informed the Assembly on the state’s consultation with the Advocate General and said the proposal was under consideration.  The CM’s remarks came while he was replying to Leader of the Opposition MK Stalin, who took up the case of Perarivalan. The Chief Minister said following requests from various quarters, the proposal had been pending legal advice from the Advocate General. 

Both the proposals were further deliberated in a round of meetings with the top brass from Home department on Saturday. AIADMK alliance members M Thamimun Ansari (Nagapattinam), U Thaniyarasu (Kangeyam) and S Karunaas (Thiruvadanai) had requested Stalin to raise the issue in the Assembly on behalf of Arivu’s ailing mother Arputhammal.