A division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice D Krishnakumar, before whom the plea moved by Perarivalan’s mother T Arputhammal a few days ago — seeking an extension of parole citing his ill health — came up, extended it by two weeks. The parole will now be in effect till November 23.

Perarivalan was released on month-long parole after his mother moved a plea last month seeking 90-day leave. She had submitted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her son, who is being treated periodically at the Government General Hospital for the past five years, was not provided with proper treatment when he was taken there owing to prostate and urinary infection.

His mother had also stated that she and her husband, who were in their seventies, were also suffering from age-related issues and taking treatment.

The bench had then granted the parole after directing him to report to the nearest police station once daily and that he should surrender himself to the Superintendent of Prisons at the Central Prison, Vellore, on the expiry of the leave extended or recall.

Over the last several weeks, demands for the release of Perarivalan have resurfaced on public forums in Tamil Nadu. The Supreme Court, too, had on November 4 expressed displeasure over the pendency of recommendation by State government for the release of Rajiv convicts for over two years. There is also a buzz in TN political circles after Governor Banwarilal Purohit left for New Delhi for a three-day visit and meeting with the Prime Minister and the President immediately after the Apex court observation.

It was in June 1991 that Perarivalan was arrested at the age of 19. He was accused of having bought two battery cells for Sivarasan, the LTTE man who masterminded the conspiracy, and which were used in the bomb that killed Rajiv. After remaining on remained on death row for 23 years, on February 18, 2014, a Supreme Court Bench of then Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam and Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Shiva Kirti Singh commuted the death sentences of Perarivalan and two other convicts, Murugan and Santhan, into imprisonment for life.