After Central Government, Congress To Also File Review Petition Against Release Of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Convicts

Delhi, 21st November 2022: On November 11, the Supreme Court directed the release of six convicts in the murder case of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It also included Nalini Sriharan. A few days ago, a review petition was filed in the Supreme Court by the Central Government against this decision. Meanwhile, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has informed that after the central government, the Congress party will also file a review petition against the release of these convicts.

The Supreme Court had directed the release of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. “We are going to file a review petition in this matter. However, it has not yet been decided whether this petition should be filed along with the central government’s petition or filed separately,” informed Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

After the Supreme Court directed the release of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, a review petition was filed by the central government against this decision on November 17. It was stated in this petition that the government is a major party in this matter and without listening to their views, the killers of the former prime minister were directed to be released.

The Supreme Court had on November 11 directed the release of Nalini Sriharan, serving life imprisonment for more than two decades in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, R. P. Ravichandran, Jayakumar, Santhan, Murugan and Robert Pius. “All these convicts have served more than 23 years in jail. The court also observed in the order that his conduct in jail was satisfactory, he has completed his degree, written books and participated in social service. Also, we find that the criteria and factors considered by the Court while directing the release of Perarivalan apply to the present petitioners also. Therefore, these petitioners have so far served sufficient punishment for the relevant offence. If these petitioners are not serving punishment in any case other than this offence, they should be released forthwith,” the bench said in the judgment.