Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: Convict Nalini Sriharan granted 30-day parole

Madras high court on Friday granted 30-day parole to Nalini Sriharan who is serving life imprisonment in connection with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Nalini was granted parole on condition that during the period she would not be allowed to meet politicians or interact with the media.

On June 25, the HC had granted permission to Nalini to appear in person on July 5 and argue on her plea for six months ordinary leave to make arrangements for her daughter's wedding.

Nalini was initially sentenced to death, however, her death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the Tamil Nadu government on April 24, 2000.

Nalini's argument was that a life convict is entitled to a one-month leave once in two years and since she had never availed such ordinary leave for more than 27 years, she was entitled to take a leave now. She had appealed on February 25 for the six months leave to make arrangements for her daughter's marriage.

She claimed that after commutation of her death sentence, around 3,700 life convicts, who had served 10 years of imprisonment and less, were released by the Tamil Nadu government.

Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a LTTE suicide bomber during an election rally at Sriperumpudur on May 21, 1991. 

(With inputs from PTI)