Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case: TN Govt Extends Nalini’s Parole For 8th Time

Nalini was first granted parole on December 27, 2021 due to the health condition of her mother. 

Chennai: For the eighth time, the Tamil Nadu government extended parole granted to Nalini, one of the life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, by another 30 days on Wednesday. Nalini was first granted parole on December 27, 2021 due to the health condition of her mother.  

Nalini, who is serving a life sentence in the Vellore Women's Prison in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case, was supposed to have returned to jail after the end of her parole on Thursday. However, the Tamil Nadu government ordered the extension of parole for the 8th time.

Nalini has been staying with her mother at a house in Brahmapuram, Vellore. She has been visiting Katpadi police station every day to sign.

In early this month, Nalini moved the Supreme Court seeking premature release. Nalini moved the apex court challenging the Madras High Court order, which dismissed her plea saying that it cannot exercise powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to pass a similar order, which was passed by the apex court to release another accused, A.G. Perarivalan, in the case. 

"The directions sought by the petitioner cannot be given by the court, as it otherwise does not have power similar to what the apex court has under Article 142 of the Constitution of India. For the foregoing reasons, the writ petition is dismissed as not maintainable", said the high court in an order passed on June 17.

On May 18, the Supreme Court invoked its extraordinary powers to do complete justice under Article 142 of the Constitution, as it ordered the release of A.G. Perarivalan, sentenced to life in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

(With IANS inputs)