Governor has the liberty to decide on the release of Perarivalan says Central Govt

A G Perarivalan, who is held as a convict in Rajiv Gandhi assasination case, is serving life imprisonment along with Santhan, Murugan and Nalini Murugan.

Earlier the Tamil Nadu cabinet had passed an resolution to release the seven convicts, including Nalini, Murugan and Perarivalan, who are serving a sentence in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case. The resolution was sent to the governor for approval.

Nalini had approached the Supreme court seeking earlier release of herself along with convicts, since the Governor approval for the resolution was being delayed. The hearing of the same was brought before the panel of judges today.

The then Home Secretary Mohammed Nasheeman had filed a reply, on behalf of the Central Government, which said, "The convicts were arrested for funding conspiracy in the Sriperumbudur blast which claimed 17 lives, including former PM Rajiv Gandhi. The capital punishment issued for the seven convicts, including petitioner Nalini, was later reduced to life imprisonment.

Since they have been convicted under the Tada Act, it is impossible to release them without the approval of the Central Government.

The Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to prepone the release of Nalini. The resolution of the same has been sent to the Governor of TamilNadu for final approval. However, the governor has the liberty to decide on the release of the convicts as per the law of constitution".

The case was later postponed to June 12 for further hearing.