Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: SC extends A G Perarivalan's parole by a week

It said that an interlocutory application has been filed by the petitioner seeking an extension of parole by 90 days on the ground of ailment

The Supreme Court on Friday further extended by a week the parole of A G Perarivalan, serving life sentence in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, for undergoing medical check-up.

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat, which had earlier on November 23 extended the parole by a week, however, made it clear that no further application would be considered for it.

The court also directed the Tamil Nadu government to provide police escort to Perarivalan during his visit to doctors in hospital of his choice.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayana, appearing for the convict, sought extension of parole for another 90 days on the ground that he was seriously ill and needed medical attention.

Additional Advocate General of Tamil Nadu, Balaji Srinivasan, for his part, submitted that the convict sought extension of parole before the Madras HC, which granted him two weeks relief on November 6 with a direction that no further extension would be granted for it.

He also said CMC Vellore was only 25 kms away from the jail in which the petitioner was lodged and in case of any medical necessity, he would be taken over there.

Notably, the court had earlier fixed the issue of grant of remission, for consideration on January 19, 2021.

The Tamil Nadu government's recommendation for the remission of all convicts is pending before the Governor for over two years.

The CBI had earlier told the court that an ongoing probe by its multi-disciplinary monitoring agency was going on as per the mandate of Jain Commission about role of some Sri Lankan and Indian suspects and was not related to Perarivalan, already convicted in the 1991 Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.