Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: Let’s hope TN governor will soon take a ‘good decision’ on releasing life convicts, minister says

VILLUPURAM: Tamil Nadu law minister C Ve Shanmugam on Wednesday expressed the hope that governor Banwarilal Purohit would soon take a “good decision” on the premature release of the seven life convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
The minister was speaking to reporters after laying the foundation stone of infrastructure development projects in Villupuram
He cited the Supreme Court’s observation that the Tamil Nadu government may request the governor for the premature release of seven life convicts -- Nalini, Sriharan , A G Perarivalan , Santhan , Jayakumar , Ravichandran and Robert Payas. The governor has the authority to grant them pardon, as per Article of 161 of the Constitution.
He said the ruling AIADMK government had passed a resolution recommending the release of the life convicts. “Now it’s up to the governor to take a decision,” he said.
Shanmugham said the opposition DMK had no right to criticise the AIADMK government on the issue.
“When the DMK was in power, the cabinet passed a resolution to punish all the convicts, barring Nalini. So the party has no right to criticise the AIADMK government which works for the release of all seven Tamils who have been in prison for more than 28 years," he said.