Nalini Sriharan one of the life convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case has contented in the Madras High Court that the Tamil Nadu government’s denial of her parole was “unsustainable in law” as it had been decided three years ago to release her ahead of time.
She was responding to a counter affidavit filed by the state government with regards to her plea requesting parole for six months in order to make necessary arrangements for her daughter’s marriage.
The government has opposed her plea, arguing that she might escape lawful custody if she is granted parole.
Premature Release Granted Three Years Ago
In her submission Nalini pointed out that the state government had decided in 2014 to give her early release . The decision was deferred after it was stayed by the Supreme Court.
She further highlighted that her co-convict AG Perarivalan had been given parole for two months recently.
The state government affidavit was filed by the deputy home secretary and states that Nalini Sriharan was not eligible under the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules 1982 and Section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 rules for ordinary leave.
Nalini Sriharan has spent over 26 years in a special women’s prison in Vellore after she was convicted in connection with the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumpudur in 1991.
