Panel takes up Nalini release plea

The reconstituted advisory board under the chairmanship of Vellore District Collector C Rajendran, freshly heard Nalini’s plea for premature release on the ground that she had already spent 19 years in jail and two other life sentences in this case.

Apart from the collector, the board includes P Kalaiarasan, Principal District Sessions Judge, N Sekar, Superintendent of the Vellore Central Prison, the Regional Probation Officer and a non-official member.

“We heard the pleas by 11 life convicts in all including three in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case that includes Robert Payas and Jayakumar, according to the directions of the high court,” Rajendran told Deccan Herald over phone on Thursday.

However, during Wednesday’s hearing in the prison, it is learnt that the Principal District Sessions Judge was not present. This may not be a handicap as “it is the majority opinion of the board members that matters,” well-informed sources said.

Even if the board sends its recommendation to the State Government in the next two to three days, it would still take a long time for a decision on Nalini’s premature release or otherwise, as the DMK government would have to consult the Centre, sources added.