Chennai: Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss has urged the state government to fight for the cause of the seven convicts facing death sentence in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and ensure that they are released.
In a statement, Dr Ramadoss said that at a time when the release of the seven convicts appeared distant, the Supreme Court had initiated suo moto proceeding and announced that it will take up the case for hearing on July 15.After completing preliminary formalities, hearing is likely to be over by July end. Considering this, the Tamil Nadu government should take efforts to ensure the convicts are released.
He recalled that the Supreme Court reduced the capital punishment for Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan to life term on the February 18, 2014.Following this, the Tamil Nadu government declared that all these three along with Nalini, Ravichandran, Robert Pyas and Jayakumar who were in jail would be released. When the Centre approached the Supreme Court, a Bench referred the case to a Constitution Bench.
