How a mother fought for her boy’s life, and won

CHENNAI: Her struggle lasted three long decades. But Arputhammal, 74, never gave up her battle to get her son Perarivalan, a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, freed. She left no stone unturned in securing his release even if it meant the long wait to meet former chief minister J Jayalalithaa at Fort St George or Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
“A man’s life was spent in prison for 31 years. If you sit and think for a second, then you will know the pain and agony. My son has come through. I thank the chief minister, leaders of parties and the unknown people who stood by my son,” Arputhammal said, minutes after SC gave the verdict.

She knocked the doors of legendary jurist V R Krishna Iyer, who in turn wrote a letter to former PM Manmohan Singh. Perarivalan was in jail with capital punishment hanging over his head for close to 18 years before the sentence was remitted. Arputhammal petitioned the CM’s office, ministers, advocates, social activists, the CM’s grievance cell, and participated in demonstrations and human chain protests, and held press briefings. “Her relentless spirit was one of the major reasons for our government to consider extending parole for the first time in 2017,” AIADMK leader and former TN law minister C Ve Shanmugam said.
There was a ray of hope when Jayalalithaa announced that she would release all the convicts in the case based on the decision of the cabinet in 2014. Arputhammal called on the former CM, tears rolling down her face to express gratitude.
A series of setbacks the following year saw Arputhammal breaking down and declaring she would seek ‘mercy killing’ for her son. Citing the premature release of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was sentenced under the Arms Act, Arputhammal reacted sharply, “Is there a separate law for north India and south India?”