95 convicts to be released on I-Day

The prisons department has sent a list of 95 prisoners lodged in seven central prisons to the government to be released on Independence Day for their good conduct.

Last year, the Independence Day release of prisoners was frozen following the controversy over allegations by the then DIG (Prisons) D Roopa that VIP treatment was given to AIADMK leader V K Sasikala. After ADGP N S Megharikh took charge as IGP (Prisons), the list was sent and the state government released 108 prisoners, including 10 women, from various prisons across the state on December 13. Again on March 7 this year, 92 prisoners were released from all the central prisons.

A senior prison department official said the list of 95 prisoners lodged in various central jails, who served the maximum time of their sentence with good conduct, were sent to the government.

The government can write back to raise doubts on some names and officials would clarify on why a particular prisoner was chosen for early release. Once finalised, the list would be placed before the governor and, after his approval, they would be released.

Most of the convicts were not habitual offenders and committed offences in a fit of rage, the official said.