Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict Nalini gets 30 days parole

The Madras High Court on Friday (July 5) granted one month parole to S Nalini, one of the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case to make arrangements for her daughter’s wedding.

One of the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, S Nalini has been in prison for over 28 years. A couple of months ago, she filed a habeas corpus petition seeking permission to produce her before the court to ask for six months’ leave. The court asked for her opinion to argue the case in a video conference because the state government was not willing to produce her in person citing security reasons.

Later, the court directed the Vellore Central prison officials to produce her before the court on Friday since she pressed for a personal hearing. The case came up for hearing before a bench comprising justices MM Sundresh and M Nirmal Kumar at around 2.30 pm on Friday.

During the hearing, she requested the judges to grant her leave for six months to make arrangements for her daughter’s wedding, who is now residing in London. As Nalini and her husband Murugan had been in prison for more than 28 years, they did not get a chance to raise their daughter. “She was raised and was taken care of by elderly people in the family,” Nalini told the court and sought six months’ leave.

However, the state government objected, saying the government could grant only one month’s leave to her. According to the rules for the suspension of a sentence, a maximum of 30 days’ ordinary leave can only be granted. Following the hearing, the court granted her one month parole.

Nalini was asked to submit her details including name, address and place of stay. The bench also laid down a few restrictions and asked her not to give any press interviews or participate in political party meetings.

Usually, the security cost would be taken care of by the person going on leave. However, Nalini stated that she could not afford security costs and the court found merit in her submission. The bench directed the state to take care of the security costs during her one month parole, also directing prison authorities to process her application within 10 days.