Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government will seek the release of the seven persons convicted for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The recommendation of the state Cabinet will be sent to the Governor immediately, said state Minister D Jayakumar, adding the “public sentiment” is in favour of the release.
The government’s move comes as the Supreme Court asked Governor Banwarilal Purohit to take a call on the mercy petition of one of the convicts, AG Perarivalan. The state reasoned that it would recommend the release of all since they had also petitioned for early release.
But the government is likely to need the Centre’s approval for the convicts’ release in this case. In 2014, in response to a petition by then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, the Supreme Court had said the state government cannot decide on the release of the convicts and needs the Centre’s approval for it.
But all governments have been against any release of convicts in this case. Regarding the mercy petition of Perarivalan, the home ministry told the Supreme Court last month that Rajiv Gandhi’s killers cannot be released.
