The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the release of AG Perarivalan who was arrested on June 11, 1991 at Periyar Thidal, Chennai by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. He was charged with providing a 9-volt battery for the explosive device to assassination conspirator Sivarasan.

His death penalty was commuted to life term imprisonment after a Supreme Court verdict on February 18, 2014. On February 19, 2014, Government of Tamil Nadu announced its decision to release him along with six other convicts.

Also read: Rajiv Gandhi assassination: Supreme Court orders release of AG Perarivalan

Recently, the top court had been mulling if it should give bail to Perarivalan as the Governor is yet to decide on his plea seeking release from prison.

Earlier, a bench presided by Justice L Nageswara Rao said, “Since he has already undergone sentence for more than 30 years, we are of the considered view that he is entitled to bail in spite of the vehement opposition by Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj”.

Also read: SC grants bail to Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict

The bench, also comprising Justice BR Gavai, noted that there is no dispute about Perarivalan having undergone 32 years of imprisonment and that the court was informed he was released on parole twice earlier and there has been no complaints.

Perarivalan had said that the Governor was yet to take a decision on his prayer for remission and that the delay was a ground for bail.

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Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991 in Tamil Nadu’s Sriperumbudur. Gandhi was in the midst of an election campaign. He got out of his car and was walking towards the dais where he was set to deliver a speech.