Do not show mercy to Rajiv Gandhi killers: Centre to SC

The Centre on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court not to show any mercy to the killers of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. This action by the Centre is likely to draw Tamil Nadu government's ire which has tried to free the seven convicts of the 1991 assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. 

Last week, the Supreme Court refused to lift the stay on the release of the convicts. A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, including Chief Justice HL Dattu, said that for now it will not 'tinker with any of the earlier orders.'

In February the apex court revised the death sentences to the life imprisonment for the three convicts Murugan, Santhan and Periarivalan. Following this, the Jayalalithaa led Tamil Nadu government had decided to remit the sentences of all seven convicts in the case. The Central government obtained a stay against the release of the convicts from the Supreme Court.

According to reports, the Central Government has said that since the case was investigated by the CBI and not the state police, the convicts should nto be released without the Centre's sanction.

According to a Hindu report, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar submitted that 18 persons were killed and 48 were critically injured in the 1991 blast.

“It is the government who has to take care of interests of the victims. The concept of parens patriae kicks in,” Mr. Kumar submitted.