Perarivalan, Rajiv assassination case convict, granted parole

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict A.G. Perarivalan,who is currently serving his life sentence, has been granted parole for the first time since his arrest in mid-1991.

In a letter dated August 24, the Additional Chief Secretary has written to the Deputy Inspector General of Prisons citing the opinion of Advocate General of Tamil Nadu that with regard to the scope of Rule 22 of Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982, there was no restriction for granting parole to Perarivalan.

Perarivalan had sought parole to visit his ailing father. According to his mother, Arputhammal, this is the first time that her son was seeking parole since his imprisonment in 1991. Her husband Gnanasekaran (74) was suffering from different ailments, including hypertension and



asthma, and doctors had advised that he be taken from Jolarpet to Chennai for further treatment. Since Perarivalan has to come and take his father to the hospital, he had sought release on parole.

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had informed the Assembly on July 9 that the government held consultations with the Advocate General about a proposal to release Perarivalan on parole.

Replying to Leader of the Opposition M.K. Stalin, who took up the case of Perarivalan, Mr. Palaniswami said the government was considering the proposal.

The Chief Minister had said following requests from various quarters, he held consultations with Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam over the issue and sent the proposal for legal advice of the Advocate General.