A special court here on Tuesday dismissed a petition of A.G. Perarivalan, death row convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking for “effective monitoring” of the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Authority, a wing of the CBI which is probing the larger conspiracy angle behind the killing. The court also rejected another plea directing the CBI to investigate the ignored areas in the case. Judge N. Dhandapani pronounced a brief order dismissing Perarivalan’s petition. Perarivalan was sentenced to death on charges of criminal conspiracy and for providing batteries to detonate the bomb used by the suicide bomber. He is lodged in Central Prison, Vellore. In his petition, Perarivalan claimed he would be affected by the outcome of the pending investigation. He alleged that the MDMA was submitting documents and reports in sealed covers, the contents of which were unknown, and that investigation was not being done in a proper manner. He said a proper investigation would throw more … [Read more...] about Rajiv case: Court dismisses Perarivalan’s plea for ‘effective monitoring’ of CBI wing
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Perarivalan pardon case: SC to give verdict on May 18
The Supreme Court on Wednesday is scheduled to pronounce its judgment on whether the Tamil Nadu Governor was right in referring Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict A.G. Perarivalan’s plea for pardon to the President without taking a decision. Very early in the case, a Bench led by Justice L. Nageswara Rao gave the Centre a choice between allowing Perarivalan, who has served over 30 years of his life sentence, to be released or argue the case and eventually get a judgment on merits. The Centre had chosen the latter. Under Article 161 of the Constitution , the Governor is bound by the advice given by the Tamil Nadu Council of Ministers to the Governor to release Perarivalan. The court, during arguments, had orally observed that the Governor prima facie had no authority to transfer the mercy plea to the President. There was no role for the President under Article 161. “We cannot shut our eyes to something that is happening against the Constitution. We have to follow our … [Read more...] about Perarivalan pardon case: SC to give verdict on May 18
Most political parties welcome SC verdict on Perarivalan; Alagiri says convicts not innocent
Majority of political parties in Tamil Nadu welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict ordering the release of A.G. Perarivalan, one of the seven life convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. However, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) K.S. Alagiri said the Supreme Court had released Perarivalan on legal grounds. It was the Supreme Court that had earlier found the seven guilty in the assassination case, he pointed out. BJP’s Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai said he accepted verdict. ”At the same time we hope the Supreme Court does not compromise on issues surrounding the nation’s security and unity,” he added. MDMK general secretary Vaiko, who had taken up the case of the convicts in the past, also expressed happiness over the verdict and called for release of other six life convicts in the case. He also recalled the role played by late jurist Ram Jethmalani and the arguments but forth by him in the case. Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani … [Read more...] about Most political parties welcome SC verdict on Perarivalan; Alagiri says convicts not innocent
I was never bogged down by failures, says Perarivalan
An unrelenting faith in judiciary despite several setbacks and constant support of family and friends formed the basis of the three-decades-old battle for freedom tasting success on Wednesday, A.G. Perarivalan, one of the convicts in the Raji Gandhi assassination case who was set at liberty by the Supreme Court, said. “It was a lone man’s struggle for justice. It would not have been possible had my mother not stood by me all through my testing times. It was not just my suffering in prison for 31 long years…my mother and other family members also suffered equally. I have had several setbacks in these years. On many occasions, freedom seemed to be at the doorstep but the case would get dismissed. But I was never bogged down by failures. I gathered courage and started from the scratch again,” Mr. Perarivalan told The Hindu . A.G. #Perarivalan with his family members after his release at his house in Jolarpet,Tirupattur district. pic.twitter.com/UesCBxDT2a — The Hindu … [Read more...] about I was never bogged down by failures, says Perarivalan
Parliament should debate death penalty, says Kaarthikeyan
Former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation D.R. Kaarthikeyan has called for a special session of Parliament to debate whether India should abolish death penalty or retain it. In a message to the People’s Movement Against Death Penalty (PMADP) headed by the former Supreme Court Judge, V.R. Krishna Iyer, he said the best acceptable and pragmatic solution was for Parliament to take a firm decision unanimously or by an overwhelming majority, reflecting the general mood of the nation. “A special session of Parliament should be convened, where members should be enabled to express their opinion… the members should be given the freedom to exercise their views by voting on the motion, without being constrained by any party whip,” he said. Mr. Kaarthikeyan was the chief of the Special Investigation Team that probed the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. In an apparent reference to the delay in decisions on the mercy petitions of convicts facing death penalty, he said: … [Read more...] about Parliament should debate death penalty, says Kaarthikeyan
Perarivalan’s release victory for federalism, State autonomy: Stalin
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday welcomed the release of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case life convict Perarivalan terming the Supreme Court’s verdict historic. He said the release of Perarivalan was not just a victory for an individual but had served as an example for federalism and the autonomy of States. In a statement, Mr. Stalin said Perarivalan, who had spent 32 years in prison and lost his youth behind bars, was finally able to smell freedom. “I convey my wishes to him and welcome him,” said the Chief Minister. மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin அவர்களை சென்னை விமான நிலையத்தில், பேரறிவாளன் அவர்கள் சந்தித்து தனது விடுதலைக்காக தமிழ்நாடு அரசு மேற்கொண்ட நடவடிக்கைகளுக்கு நன்றி தெரிவித்து வாழ்த்துப் பெற்றார். pic.twitter.com/uSongSaHH3 — CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) May 18, 2022 Mr. Stalin also lauded the efforts of Perarivalan’s mother Arputhammal for waging a long battle for his release. She had proved the essence of motherhood and was an … [Read more...] about Perarivalan’s release victory for federalism, State autonomy: Stalin
I expected the verdict and respect the same, says former CBI director Kaarthikeyan who probed Rajiv Gandhi assassination
The Supreme Court verdict releasing A.G. Perarivalan , one of the life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, is on expected lines, former Director Central Bureau of Investigation D.R. Kaarthikeyan said. “I respect this verdict and it is on expected lines. We have to respect the Supreme Court judgment,” Mr Kaarthikeyan, who led the Special Investigation Team that probed the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, told The Hindu on Wednesday. However, Mr. Karthikeyan sought to dismiss claims that the convicts in the case were innocent. “We did an in-depth investigation leaving no stone unturned. The team toiled for several months collecting crucial evidence from all possible sources and finally managed to go from the crime to the criminal. Three eminent Supreme Court judges upheld the verdict after hearing the matter over three long months — perhaps the longest ever appeal heard in the apex court. It is not that any of them were innocent,” he said. “This was not just … [Read more...] about I expected the verdict and respect the same, says former CBI director Kaarthikeyan who probed Rajiv Gandhi assassination
Former CBI official says he did not record Perarivalan’s confession verbatim
A documentary released by the People’s Movement Against Death Penalty (PMADP) here on Saturday claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had failed to record verbatim the confessional statement of A.G. Perarivalan alias Arivu, the convict facing death penalty in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The shocking but delayed revelation was based on the interview of a former Superintendent of Police of the CBI who admitted that he failed to record verbatim the confessional statement of Perarivalan. V. Thiagarajan IPS (retired) who was the then CBI SP of the Kerala Branch said he was assigned the task of recording the statement of accused persons in 1991. “Arivu told me that he did not know why they asked him to buy that [the battery]. But I did not record that in the confessional statement. Then the investigation was in progress, so that particular statement I did not record. Strictly speaking, law expects you to record a statement verbatim… we don’t do that in … [Read more...] about Former CBI official says he did not record Perarivalan’s confession verbatim
Expected Supreme Court to fix time frame for Governor to act on State Cabinet recommendations, says Nalini’s counsel
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict S. Nalini’s counsel M. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday termed as a “big disappointment” the Supreme Court’s decision to release co-convict A.G. Perarivalan by invoking its inherent jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution to do complete justice in any matter pending before it. The counsel said he expected the Supreme Court to lay down a law and fix a time frame within which the Governor, exercising powers under Article 161 of the Constitution to suspend, remit or commute prison sentences, must take a call on recommendations made by the State Cabinet to release certain convicts. “Only such a ruling would have put an end to the practice of Governors keeping the Cabinet recommendations pending for years together or referring them to the President, without any authority whatsoever, and thereby deny the right of the convicts to be set free pursuant to decisions taken by the Cabinet,” he said. He pointed out that in the … [Read more...] about Expected Supreme Court to fix time frame for Governor to act on State Cabinet recommendations, says Nalini’s counsel
HC calls for report from Collector on statue reportedly planned on Tiruvannamalai Girivalam path
The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed Tiruvannamalai Collector to ascertain whether there was any plan to install a statue of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on the Girivalam (circumambulation) path by encroaching upon public lands. The court directed the Collector to inspect the spot, ascertain the revenue records and file a report by Thursday. Justices S.M. Subramaniam and J. Sathya Narayana Prasad also ordered maintenance of status quo until such report was filed in the court by the Collector. The interim orders were passed on a public interest litigation petition filed by G. Karthick, 39, an iron scrap merchant based in Chennai but a native of Nallan Pillai Petraan village in Kilpennathur Taluk of Tiruvannamalai district. In his affidavit, the petitioner said that he was a staunch devotee of Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai and always participates in the annual circumambulation around the temple. He said, the Girivalam passes through the Vengikkal … [Read more...] about HC calls for report from Collector on statue reportedly planned on Tiruvannamalai Girivalam path