Plea for saving lives of 2 convicted for Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, in Madras high court

The Madras High Court has been moved for a direction to the Tamil Nadu government to save the lives of two Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts, who are on a fast since last week in the Vellore central jail seeking their premature release. The petition is expected to be taken up for hearing on Friday.

Bringing to the court's attention that Nalini and her husband Murugan, life convicts, are on a fast in the central prison, petitioner Padma, mother of Nalini, claimed the duo's health has been deteriorating. The petitioner in her affidavit submitted that state cabinet had months ago decided to release all the seven people convicted in the case related to the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991.

The government had forwarded its recommendation to Governor Banwarilal Purohit to release the convicts, including her son in law and daughter, and the matter was now pending, she said. To urge the Governor to release them as per the government's decision, Murugan began his fast on February 5 and Nalini joined the hunger strike three days later in the prison, the petitioner submitted. Since the health condition of the duo was deteriorating the government should be directed to take appropriate steps to save their lives, the petitioner pleaded.