Centre moves SC to review premature release of 6 convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case
India

Centre moves SC to review premature release of 6 convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case

The Centre said the order granting remission was passed without including the government in the decision, a necessary party to the case.

   
File photo of Supreme Court | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

File photo of Supreme Court | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

New Delhi: Facing criticism from the Congress, the government on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking a review of its order for premature release of six convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The Centre said the order granting remission to the convicts, who had assassinated the former prime minister, was passed without affording it adequate opportunity for hearing despite it being a necessary party to the case.

The government highlighted the alleged procedural lapse, saying the convicts seeking remission did not formally implead the Centre as a party which resulted in its non-participation in the case.

On November 11, the top court had ordered premature release of six convicts, including Nalini Sriharan, who had hosted the assassin, noting the Tamil Nadu government had recommended remission of their sentence.

Besides Nalini, R P Ravichandran, Santhan, Murugan, Robert Payas and Jayakumar walked out of the jail following the Supreme Court order.

This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.


Also read: ‘Got diplomas, won awards’: What SC said as it freed 6 convicted in Rajiv Gandhi assassination