Rajiv Gandhi killing conspirators not to be released for now: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday referred to a constitution bench the question whether the government can release a life term convict whose death sentence has been converted into life imprisonment and said that the seven conspirators in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case will not be released for now.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam framed several questions to be addressed by the constitution bench including whether after commutation of the death sentence into life imprisonment, can the government further grant them remission by releasing them.

The court also said that the constitution bench will also address which is the appropriate government under the code of criminal procedure - whether it is the state government or the central government or both.

Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed in 1991.