"A New Life...": Nalini Sriharan, Rajiv Gandhi Case Convict, Leaves Jail After 31 Years - NDTV

Vellore:

A time aft the Supreme Court ordered freeing of six remaining life-term convicts successful the 1991 Rajiv Gandhi assassination lawsuit aft 31 years successful jail, 5 of them — Nalini Sriharan, her hubby Murugan, and Santhan, Robert Payas and Jayakumar — were formally released from Tamil Nadu jails connected Saturday evening. Convict RP Ravichandran was besides owed for merchandise anytime.

"It's a caller beingness for maine with my hubby and daughter," she said aft coming out. "I convey Tamil radical for supporting me," she said, but denied that she'd participate nationalist life. She besides thanked the authorities and cardinal governments.

In May, the Supreme Court had utilized its bonzer powers to escaped 1 of the 7 convicts, AG Perarivalan. The aforesaid bid applied to the rest, the tribunal said connected November 11. It noted that the Tamil Nadu furniture had recommended to the Governor successful 2018 that the convicts beryllium freed, and the Governor was bound by that.

This morning, Nalini Sriharan, who was connected parole already, visited a section constabulary presumption to people her mandatory attendance. After completing formalities astatine the peculiar situation for women successful Vellore, Nalini was released and went to the cardinal situation from wherever her hubby V Sriharan, alias Murugan, and Santhan were released.

Murugan and Santhan are some Sri Lankan nationals, and frankincense were taken successful a constabulary conveyance to a exile campy successful Tiruchirappalli successful the state.

Released from the Puzhal prison, 2 different Lankan nationals — Robert Payas and Jayakumar — were besides taken to the exile campy to beryllium lodged there. The convict acceptable escaped successful May, Perarivalan, and his parent Arputhammal received these 2 astatine the Puzhal prison.

It was not instantly wide if Nalini would enactment successful Chennai oregon articulation her girl successful London. "She volition instrumentality a telephone connected this," her lawyer told quality bureau PTI. Asked astir the destiny of her hubby Murugan, the lawyer said the authorities authorities would determine connected deportation. Convict Santhan had already expressed his intent to instrumentality to Sri Lanka, helium added.

While ordering their release, the Supreme Court had said the convicts had showed "satisfactory behaviour", acquired degrees, written books, and had besides participated successful societal service.

The Congress powerfully objected to the Supreme Court bid freeing Rajiv Gandhi's assassins. It said the enactment did not hold with the views of Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka, who've been votaries of mercy to the convicts.

In the twelvemonth 2000, Nalini Sriharan's condemnation was reduced to a beingness term. Later successful the twelvemonth 2014, the condemnation of the different six convicts were besides reduced, and the past main curate of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalitha recommended their release.

Former PM Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated connected May 21, 1991, astatine Sriperumbudur successful Tamil Nadu by a termination bomber of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) radical during a nationalist rally. It was seen arsenic retaliation aft helium sent Indian peacekeepers to Sri Lanka successful 1987, lone to retreat them aft losing much than 1,200 men successful battle.