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Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: Mother of convict pleads with Tamil Nadu CM for son's release

Although Perarivalan was convicted in 1991 under the grounds of having provided two 9-volt batteries which were used in the bomb that killed Rajiv Gandhi, it has been established later that he merely procured the batteries, without knowing about the conspiracy.

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Arputhammal, the septuagenarian mother of Perrarivalan, a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case has made an appeal to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, seeking her son’s immediate release. In a video message, she requests that the Chief Minister pays personal attention to the case and ensures that Perarivalan doesn’t go back to jail. Perarivalan (a) Arivu is out on parole on medical grounds since October 9 and the Madras High Court agreed to extend his parole by two weeks considering his health condition. 

Although Perarivalan was convicted in 1991 under the grounds of having provided two 9-volt batteries which were used in the bomb that killed Rajiv Gandhi, it has been established later that he merely procured the batteries, without knowing about the conspiracy or what the batteries would be used for. He has been languishing in prison for over 29 years and there have been many voices demanding his release. 

In her appeal, Arputhammal speaks about her 30-year long battle to get her son released and is seen referring to the error made by the CBI in recording Arivu’s confession, during the course of investigation. In 2017, CBI officer Thiyagarajan had informed the Supreme Court about an error he had made while writing down Perarivalan’s statement. 

She refers to the times when her hopes had peaked about her son's release while speaking of the resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. She adds that this resolution has been stuck with the Tamil Nadu Governor for over two years, despite the Supreme Court having held that the Tamil Nadu Government can ensure the release by invoking powers under Article 161. Recently, the Supreme Court had questioned the delay on the part of the Governor in the release of the seven convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. 

“In recent times my mental agony has only grown manifold. My son has serious health issues and is at severe risk of Covid-19. Just two days prior to his coming home on parole, his father fell down and his hip was badly damaged, leaving him bedridden. My son is ill he and can’t get necessary treatment in jail and my husband is immobile. It’s really necessary that our son remains with us at this difficult time” she pleads.

Arputhammal adds that her son had languished in jail for 30 years and despite her endless battle for his release, he lost his precious years in prison. “How long are we going to be alive…? we want our son during our final years… Please ensure that my son doesn’t go back to jail, Chief Minister” she is seen saying. 

Over the last few days, ministers in Tamil Nadu have expressed hope and spoken of the possibilities regarding the release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.  While this can be seen as comments that are coming close on the heels of Assembly polls due in 2021, there are also some indications that the demand by the ministers may force Governor Banwarilal Purohit to take some action.

Interestingly, these statements have come shortly after Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit visited Delhi to meet the Prime Minister, Home Minister, MoS Prime Minister’s Office and the Vice President of India to discuss what the Governor’s office referred to as, “important issues related to Tamil Nadu”.

On November 3, a Supreme Court bench expressed unhappiness over the fact that the recommendation for the release of Rajiv Gandhi convicts sent to the Governor by the State government was pending for over two years. 

Earlier, it was informed that the reason behind the delay from the Governor’s end was owing to the probe of the Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA) which is looking into the larger conspiracy behind the Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case. However, the Court had held that the MDMA probe should not have any impact on the Governor’s decision to pardon the convicts.

Seven people including Perarivalan were convicted by the special TADA court for their role in the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21 by an LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, in the outskirts of Chennai. 

 

 

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