The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the release of AG Perarivalan in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Perarivalan is one of the six convicts, including Nalini Sriharan and her husband Murugan, a Sri Lankan national.

The Supreme Court bench invoked special powers under Article 142 of the Indian Constitution for his release. The bench held that the governor’s lack of decision in Perarivalan’s pardon plea validated his release under Article 161.

Also read: Who is AG Perarivalan?

In 1991, Perarivalan was 19 years old when he was arrested for buying two nine-volt batteries that were used to trigger the belt bomb that killed former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Perarivalan was booked under the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) along with other accused.

On May 21, 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at an election rally in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu. Dhanu, the suicide bomber, along with 14 others were killed in the explosion.

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

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) booked as many as 41 accused, including 12 dead, three absconding before a special TADA court in Chennai. In January, 1998, the court sentenced 26 accused, including Perarivalan and Nalini to death.

In 1999, the Supreme Court had upheld the death sentence of four convicts – Perarivalan, Nalini, Murugan and Santhan.

The Tamil Nadu governor commuted the death sentence of Nalini to life term in April 2000 on the basis of public appeal made by Sonia Gandhi and recommendation of the state government.

Also read: SC grants bail to Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict

in 2001, Perarivalan, Santhan and Murugan submitted their mercy petitions to the President of India. After 11 years, then President Pratibha Patil rejected their pleas.

Former chief minister J Jayalalithaa passed a resolution to commute the death sentence of three convicts whose execution orders were stayed by the Madras High Court in 2011.

A former CBI investigation officer had revealed that he had ignored the important part of Perarivalan’s confession and that he did not know the battery that he had bought would be used to making the bomb.

On February 18, 2014, the Supreme Court commuted Perarivalan’s death sentence to life imprisonment, along with Santhan and Murgugan on the basis of 11-year delay in the mercy petition by the Centre.

Also read: The Day Rajiv Gandhi Was Killed

In 2015, Perarivalan submitted a mercy plea to the Tamil Nadu governor seeking release. He then moved the Supreme Court when he received no reply from the governor.

Then chief minister Edapaddi K Palanaswami recommended the release of all seven convicts in September, 2018.

In June 2021, Perarivalan’s mother Arputhammal released a video on social media pleading with chief minister MK Stalin to get his son permanently released.

The Supreme Court granted bail to Perarivalan after 32 years in March, 2022. The court had said, “Taking into account the fact that the applicant has spent over 30 years in prison, we are of the considered view that he is entitled to be released on bail, in spite of the vehement opposition by the Centre.”