Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin writes to President Kovind, seeks release of all convicts from Rajiv case

The convicts have been undergoing the “agony of imprisonment” for the past about three decades and the state has been demanding their early release, he said. A majority of political parties have been requesting remission of the remainder of their sentences and their immediate release.

“It is also the will of the people of Tamil Nadu,” Stalin said in a letter addressed to Kovind. The letter, dated May 19, was made available to media outlets on Thursday. V Sriharan alias Murugan, his wife Nalini, Santhan, AG Perarivalan, Jayakumar, Robert Payas and P Ravichandran are the seven convicts.

Tamil Nadu rolls out free of cost COVID-19 vaccination for 18-44 age group

The Chief Minister recalled that the Tamil Nadu government had on September 9, 2018 recommended to Governor Banwarilal Purohit to remit the rest of sentences of all the seven convicts and their early release.

“The purported obstacle for exercise of the power of remission was the pendency of the investigation by the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency of CBI. It has been clarified by the respective stands of the Union Government and CBI before the Supreme Court that there is no connection between the remission of the sentence and investigation.”

Thereafter, the Governor decided that the President is the competent authority to decide on remission of sentences and forwarded the state government’s recommendation to Kovind’s office, Stalin said.

“These seven persons have already suffered untold hardship and agony in the past three decades and have paid a heavy price. There has already been an inordinate delay in the consideration of their pleas for remission. In the present circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, courts are also recognising the need to decongest prisons.”

CoviSelf Kit: Price, how to use and test results – All you need to know about Mylab COVID-19 test kit

Therefore, the CM requested Kovind to “kindly accept the recommendation of the state government” and pass appropriate orders for remission of life sentences of all the seven convicts and direct their immediate release.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur near here by a woman suicide bomber, Dhanu, at an election rally of the Congress party. Major parties, including the ruling DMK, main opposition AIADMK favour setting the Rajiv case convicts free.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief KS Alagiri had said last year that only the judiciary should decide on remission of their sentences. If the Rajiv case case convicts were to be set free, a demand would arise for the release of all “murder convicts” who have spent over 25 years in prison.