The mercy petition contained a number of documents to substantiate that he was innocent.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. (Photo: DC/File)
Chennai: Arputhammal, 69, mother of A.G. Perarivalan, alias Arivu, one of the seven life convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has sought the help of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in releasing her son and six others from prison.
In a petition submitted to the Chief Minister’s cell on Wednesday, Arputhammal pointed out that last week her 44-year old son sent a mercy petition to the Governor, seeking pardon and release under Article 161 of the Constitution.
The mercy petition contained a number of documents to substantiate that he was innocent. Perarivalan mentioned statement of IPS officer Thiagarajan, former CBI official and the then investigation officer, that Arivu’s confession was not recorded in verbatim during the investigation. Arivu also submitted details about his 74-year-old father Gnanasekaran and his 69-year old mother Arputhammal, were ill.
He cited their poor health as one of the grounds to consider his mercy petition. Gnanasekaran is now in a vegetative state. Considering various reports in the courts and aged ailing parents, Arivu’s health condition, his good behaviour for the past 25-years in prison, Arputhammal said he should be released from the prison to enable him to spend the last days with his parents.
During an election rally, Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi and 14 others were killed in a suicide bombing by members of erstwhile LTTE on 21 May 1991, in Sriperumbdur. Following long hunt, Special Investigation Team arrested Nalini and others. Arivu was arrested at the age of 19 years by the CBI.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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