CBI claims Rajiv Gandhi case convict's plea not maintainable

The CBI has contended before the Supreme Court that a plea by one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case for recall of the May 1999 verdict upholding his conviction was not "maintainable".

It asserted that his role in the conspiracy was "clearly established".

Convict A G Perarivalan contended that he had absolutely no idea of what purpose he supplied two nine-volt batteries, that were used for preparing the improvised explosive device (IED) that killed Rajiv, and  Pending the probe by CBI's Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA) into the larger conspiracy aspect, the judgement should be reconsidered.

In an affidavit, the CBI said the "role of the applicant (Perarivalan) herein in the conspiracy resulting in the assassination of Rajiv and others has been upheld by the Apex Court and overt act has been clearly established by the law".

"Hence, the claim of the applicant that he is innocent and did not have the knowledge about the conspiracy to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi is neither acceptable nor maintainable," the agency said.

Notably, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said in Singapore recently that he and his sister Priyanka have "completely forgiven" his father Rajiv Gandhi's killers as they found it "difficult to hate people".