Supreme Court Orders Release Of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Convict A G Perarivalan

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on May 18 ordered the release of A G Perarivalan, the convict in the assassination of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi.

He has served over 30 years of life term in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The apex court had invoked powers under Article 142 of the Constitution as it was of the view that the inordinate delay in deciding Perarivalan's early release plea by the Governor under Article 161 warranted his release and it was invoked by a bench which was headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao.

"The state Cabinet had taken its decision based on relevant considerations. In exercise of Article 142, it is appropriate to release the convict," the Bench said.

It is to be noted that Article 142 of the constitution deals with the enforcement of decrees and orders of the Supreme Court and orders as to discovery, etc.

Perarivalan was granted bail by the top court on March 9 as it took cognizance of his long incarceration and no history of complaints when he was out on parole.

The apex court was hearing the plea of 47-year-old Perarivalan who sought suspension of his life sentence in the case till the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency investigation is completed.

Meanwhile, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on the night of May 21, 1991, at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu, at an election rally.

The supreme court had upheld the death sentence of four convicts — Perarivalan, Murugan, Santham and Nalini In its May 1999 order.

The top court had overturned the death sentence of Perarivalan to life imprisonment On February 18, 2014, along with that of two other prisoners, on the grounds that their mercy plea was delayed for 11 years by the centre.

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