The early release of Rajiv Gandhi’s convicts depends on the governor of Tamil Nadu: CBI

New Delhi:

It is up to the governor of Tamil Nadu to decide on the early release of convicts serving life sentences for the murder of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the Supreme Court on Saturday.

In an affidavit to the superior court, the agency said that the issue of early release was a problem between the governor and the petitioner, one of the convicted AG Perarivalan, and the CBI has no role in it.

The CBI has also told the high court that it has not received any requests from Governor Banwarilal Purohit seeking the details of the investigation the agency is conducting into the largest conspiracy behind the murder of the former prime minister.

The Tamil Nadu cabinet in 2018 had recommended the premature release of the convicts. The submission has been pending with the governor.

The Tamil Nadu government had told the Madras High Court in September this year that the governor’s secretary had informed the government that “the governor is awaiting the final report from the MDMA (the multidisciplinary oversight agency of which it is a part CBI) to decide on the premature release of the prisoners. “

In a similar argument, pending before the Supreme Court, the IWC has told the higher court that it is up to the governor to decide on the cancellation of the sentences of the convicted persons.

The central agency has also told the court that the investigation into the largest conspiracy behind the murder of the former prime minister continues.

The IWC affidavit comes after a higher court notice of a request from Perarivalan’s mother to release him early. The Supreme Court had expressed its dissatisfaction that the application had been pending with Governor Purohit for more than two years.

Perarivalan, 46, one of seven convicts serving a life sentence, had requested the suspension of his life sentence in the case pending the completion of the CBI-led MDMA investigation.