Govt confident of Guv deciding soon on release of Rajiv case convicts

The Governor cannot be “compelled” on the matter, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar told reporters here, even as the state cabinet’s recommendation for their release is pending with him.

The three AIADMK men convicted in the killing of three women students in the ‘Dharmapuri bus burning case’ in 2000 recently walked free from prison because there was “no malafide intention” on their part, he said. Officials had also explained to Purohit the case before he approved their release, he said.

Underlining the AIADMK government’s “sincerity” towards the release of the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Jayakumar said this was evident from the fact that the state cabinet met on a Sunday (September 9), where it decided to recommend to Purohit their release.

“It is a cabinet decision, which means not only the Chief Minister and Ministers (were involved) but it was reflective of the sentiments of all Tamils. The fact that the cabinet meeting was held on a Sunday shows how sincere the government is for their release,” he added. However, the Minister said, “The Governor cannot be compelled. The government has taken a cabinet decision and the Governor will for sure respect it and take a due decision soon. That confidence is there,” he said.

The state cabinet had earlier decided to recommend to Purohit, the release of Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan, Jayakumar, Ravichandran, Robert Payas and Nalini, all serving life imprisonment in connection with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The decision was taken following the Supreme Court asking the Governor to consider the mercy petition of Perarivalan seeking remission or pardon under Article 161 of the Constitution.

Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur near here by an LTTE woman suicide bomber at an election rally. Responding to the release of the three AIADMK men, Jayakumar said they were released as they had served over 10 years, besides there was “no malafide intention” in their action.

A Nedunchezhian, G Ravindran and C Muniappan, serving life sentence for setting ablaze a bus in Dharmapuri that killed three students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in 2000, were released prematurely on November 19.