Video: TN govt to set free all Rajiv Gandhi killers

19 February 2014 05:52 am - 32 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Tamil Nadu government has decided to release three men and one woman convicted of killing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. The death sentence of the men was commuted to life in prison by the Supreme Court yesterday.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's cabinet met this morning and decided to free the four convicts a day after the court had left it to the state government to grant them remission. Murugan's wife Nalini Sriharan's death sentence had been commuted earlier on the intervention of Rajiv Gandhi's widow, Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

While sparing the three men from the gallows, a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, P Sathasivam, said, "It is definitely not a pleasure for this court to interfere with the powers of the President. We implore upon the government to advise the President so that mercy petitions can be disposed of at the earliest."

The court did not accept the government's view that the convicts did not deserve mercy. The Centre's lawyer, Attorney General Goolam Vahanvati, had said there was "not a word of remorse" in their mercy plea and there was "no agony, torture or dehumanizing effect due to delay."

The Supreme Court had on January 21 commuted the death sentences of 15 convicts, announcing that "inordinate and inexplicable" delays in carrying out executions were grounds for reducing their original punishment.

Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan were convicted in 1998 for Mr Gandhi's assassination by a woman who greeted him with a garland and a bomb strapped to her chest during a rally in 1991. Their mercy petition was sent to the President, the last stage in the process of appeals, in 2000 and was rejected 11 years later. Their hanging was stayed in 2011 on the orders of the Madras High Court.

That year, the Tamil Nadu assembly had passed a resolution urging the President to grant mercy to the convicts and consider "Tamil sentiment." (Source: NDTV)

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Comments - 32

aj Wednesday, 19 February 2014 07:58 AM

So happy. World Tamils thankful to our TN CM Amma

gunda Wednesday, 19 February 2014 04:13 PM

You have a few amongst the SL Govt Ministers.

rabu lover Wednesday, 19 February 2014 02:26 PM

Sri Lanka will destroy terrorists, not harbour them.

rabu lover Wednesday, 19 February 2014 02:25 PM

Typical Tamil sentiment.

rabu lover Wednesday, 19 February 2014 02:24 PM

You sound a terrorist too. Please don't buy garlands.

rabu lover Wednesday, 19 February 2014 02:23 PM

Well that is the kind of sentiment that got them into trouble in the first place.

sonu Wednesday, 19 February 2014 01:36 PM

how many terrorists are ministers in Srilanka?

Christian Wednesday, 19 February 2014 01:30 PM

Nation of the one billion stupid donkeys

sinha Wednesday, 19 February 2014 12:25 PM

THANKS GOD, PETTY POLITICS.

AJJA Wednesday, 19 February 2014 08:57 AM

Srilanka,be aware.

Nadeesha Wednesday, 19 February 2014 08:55 AM

hik hik hik

tom Wednesday, 19 February 2014 02:14 PM

It's a gift to Rajive Family & Indians... Who dicided Rajive has no rights to live in this World.. LALITHA ur Grate if any body killed your opponents you may freed them also.. If such a foolish things done by Sri Lanka The whole world will say Sri Lanka has done the killing of Rajive... Oh LALITHA don't send them here keep them as ur security Guards.. All this menace.. Rajive is wrong He send Indian army to Sri Lanka & Killed Sri Lankan on our soil.. That menace Indo- Lanka not valied any more..via DM Android App

siri Wednesday, 19 February 2014 08:31 AM

Jayalalitha's next step seperate Govt?

Ranjith Silvar Wednesday, 19 February 2014 08:29 AM

Pasta is sale in Delhi.

Karma Wednesday, 19 February 2014 08:07 AM

Good good. Very good news.As Rajive faced his karma by trying to destroy Lanka,These terrorists will kill Rahul or Sonia or Jayalalitha. Trust me they will definitely do this.Cos ungratefulness is in their blood.

Sri Lankan Wednesday, 19 February 2014 08:03 AM

Murugan's wife Nalini Sriharan's death sentence had been commuted earlier on the intervention of Rajiv Gandhi's widow, Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

If Sonia Gandhi doesn't have any issue, who else has...?

gihan Wednesday, 19 February 2014 05:58 AM

Openly supporting the cause of LTTE which was one plan to achieve dravidstan. More will continue to happen with the puper congress party

DHA Wednesday, 19 February 2014 07:56 AM

Wow what justice....killers go free just for a few votes....what a country.....

Jegan Wednesday, 19 February 2014 07:51 AM

They are not Assassins. They are Accused.

ss Wednesday, 19 February 2014 07:49 AM

Wow! This is a great news.

kumaraya Wednesday, 19 February 2014 07:48 AM

ASSUMING that there are HR violators in Sri Lanka, will Jaya and co. show the same mercy to us?!! I think not!. These typical double standards and their inability to apologize for encouraging the LTTE from 1979 just show what deceivers they are.

I have said this many times. "Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind." They will live to see the effects of this.

shanthapriya Wednesday, 19 February 2014 07:46 AM

TN Govt encouraging the murders

ind Wednesday, 19 February 2014 07:44 AM

How is that Soniya ?? Well done TN. Go ahead and free all the terrorist. You will have a good future!

CROW Wednesday, 19 February 2014 07:26 AM

DEMOCRCY

gihan Wednesday, 19 February 2014 07:26 AM

they are freeing those who violated the human rights of Rajiv G. How sad

PK Ranawaka Wednesday, 19 February 2014 06:40 AM

Total conspiracy of Rajiv killing has come to light.
It is TN top politicians who aided and abetted Rajiv killing.
Rahul must be very careful in this election, since tigers are out. Such a mighty hurry to pardon cold blood killers.
Slap on Sonias and Rahul face. In fact TN has screwed Gandi family broad daylight. We Sri Lankan are laughing...

reader Wednesday, 19 February 2014 06:25 AM

Bravo! bravo! Never thought the 'tamil sentiment' included releasing terrorists

chandi Wednesday, 19 February 2014 06:22 AM

Its a sign of support their vote base & LTTE movements

lkboy Wednesday, 19 February 2014 06:08 AM

wait till they bomb the next Indian PM. Then India will realise.

mail_guy Wednesday, 19 February 2014 06:05 AM

It is a good news. Truth finally wins.

mack Wednesday, 19 February 2014 11:29 AM

SL take note soon justice will meet you lies and counter lies are not going to work this time around via DM Android App

ABC Wednesday, 19 February 2014 11:29 AM

It is time for india to consider Tamil sentiment and make a TamilNadu a seperate country. via DM Android App

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Video: TN govt to set free all Rajiv Gandhi killers

Comments - 32

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