Comply with SC order or face contempt proceedings, Nalini tells Home Secretary

Counsel for Nalini Sriharan, one of the life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has sent a letter to the Union Home Secretary that she would initiate appropriate contempt proceedings if he does not comply with the Supreme Court order dated January 23, 2018 and communicate the Centre’s views on the decision of the Government of Tamil Nadu to release her and six other life convicts in the case.

In the letter to Rajiv Gauba, Union Home Secretary, Nalini, through her counsel M. Radhakrishnan, said that the Government of Tamil Nadu through a letter dated March 2, 2016 addressed to the Home Secretary made it clear that it had decided to release the seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and sought the views of the Centre under section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure since the case was investigated by the CBI.

The Supreme Court, on January 23, 2018, directed the Union government to take a decision on the letter within three months.

Mr. Radhakrishnan said that the Home Secretary should have complied with the Supreme Court order on or before April 23, 2018. However, he has not complied with the order and therefore contempt of court, he said in the letter.

He added that if he (Home Secretary) does not comply with the SC order and communicate the Centre’s views on the T.N. government’s decision, his client (Nalini) would have no option but to initiate contempt proceedings against him.