National Law University Cancels Lecture By Rajiv Gandhi Case Convict Perarivalan

A release from NLU, Delhi said, "Due to unforeseen circumstances the 5th Annual Lecture in Criminal Law (2022) by P39A is canceled."

Perarivalan (Credit: ABP Nadu)

Chennai: The lecture by Rajiv Gandhi case convict Perarivalan scheduled on December 17 was canceled after uproar and threats by miscreants. Earlier, National Law University invited Perarivalan to deliver a lecture on "The Denial of Justice and A Quest Unfinished" as part of Project 39A's annual lecture series. 

AG Perarivalan was one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Perarivalan was released from prison after 31 years of jail term in May, 2022.

A release from NLU, Delhi said, "Due to unforeseen circumstances the 5th Annual Lecture in Criminal Law (2022) by P39A is canceled."

The event was initially planned at the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) in Chennai on December 17, Saturday. However, there was uproar against the event at ACJ. As a result, the event was canceled. 

Later, Project 39A announced that the project will be held online. In a statement, Project 39A said, "There have been serious threats of violence and vandalism to the venue over our choice of speaker AG Perarivalan (author, activist and former death row prisoner). We are committed to Perarivalan's freedom to share his experience searching for justice through 31 years of imprisonment."

"In recognition of our responsibility towards the safety of those involved the 5th project 39A Annual Lecture will be held online (17th December 2022; 6 PM)," a release said. 

However, even the online event now stays canceled as per the release from NLU.

Perarivalan was sentenced to prison when he was 19 years old in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Perarivalan was accused of buying two 9-volt batteries for Sivarasan, an LTTE member who was the mastermind behind the assassination.

On May 21, 1991, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (46) was assassinated in a suicide bombing at Sriperumbudur.