Know the seven convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case

New Delhi: The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the ex-Prime Minister of India, occurred as a result of a suicide bombing in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, in Tamil Nadu on 21 May 1991. It was carried out by Thenmozhi Rajaratnam, also known as Dhanu. A huge political row erupted after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister announced in the Assembly that her cabinet had decided to release all the seven convicts within three days, irrespective of the Centre's response to the government decision. Subsequently, Supreme Court stayed the order, and asked the state government to file its reply to the Centre's petition. Besides the three who were on death row, four others are serving life sentences. The seven convicts in centre of political controvercy are: 1. S Nalini The eldest child of S Padma, a nurse, Nalini completed her graduation from a Chennai college and was pursuing her Masters through correspondence while working as a stenographer for a private company in the city. Nalini became close to pro-LTTE activists and allegedly even the active cadres at a printing press run by her brother P S Bhagyanathan where pro-Tamil Eelam literature was printed. It was here that she reportedly met V Srikaran alias Murugan, whom she married days before getting caught. Through Murugan, she reportedly met the suicide bombers, Dhanu and Subha, and their leader Sivarasan. She was arrested on June 14, 1991. The TADA court sentenced Nalini to death along with 25 other accused on January 28, 1998. By the time the verdict was announced, Nalini had given birth to a daughter who had just turned six. In May 2000, the death sentence was commuted to life by then Tamil Nadu Governor M Fathima Beevi. 2. T Suthenthirarajan alias Santhan A Sri Lankan national, Santhan grew up in the same Lankan town as S Packiachandran alias Raghuvaran, the key LTTE figure in the assassination plot who was known as Sivarasan. Santhan came to Chennai in February 1990, accepting an offer from Sivarasan to continue his further studies here, arranged and funded by the LTTE. In Chennai, he enrolled at the Madras Institute of Engineering Technology but did not attend many classes. Santhan returned to India in May 1991, following Amman's instructions. 3. V Srikaran alias Murugan alias Thas alias Indu Master Murugan joined the rebels in 1988 and was soon inducted into the intelligence wing of the LTTE. Murugan trained new operatives, before Pottu Amman sent him to India in January 1991. Murugan was accommodated in the house of Padma, and soon had a relationship with her daughter Nalini. He was told about the blast by AG Perarivalan and Nalini's brother Bhagyanathan at around 1:30 am. Soon afterwards, Murugan, Nalini and Padma went on the run. The couple got married while in Tirupati, but were arrested soon. 4. S Jayakumar alias Jayakumaran alias Jayam Sri Lankan Tamils and related by marriage — Payas is married to Jayakumar's sister — the two were allegedly sent to India by the rebels to set up safe houses for the main accused who undertook the operation. They were also charged with aiding the surviving members of the assassination party and concealing weapons. However, the Supreme Court turned down the death penalty awarded by the trial court, holding that they were not found to be part of the actual conspiracy. 5. B Robert Payas alias Kumaralingam There is no information about Kumaralingam's early life. He was arrested on June 18, 1991 and charged under: 3(3) TADA. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. 6. P Ravichandran alias Ravi alias Pragasam Ravi was an active member of the LTTE and had visited Lanka for arms training where he met the rebel leadership several times. He was introduced to Sivarasan by Pottu Amman during one of his trips, and asked to make arrangements for Sivarasan. In his case, too, the court reduced the death penalty to life due to the absence of any clinching evidence against him. 7. AG Perarivalan alias Arivu A diploma holder in Electronics and Communication Engineering, Arivu was charged with helping the conspirators by procuring materials including a 9V battery used in the assassination, a motorcycle, battery wire and other articles for wireless set, a multimeter for testing the various electrical equipment and opening bank accounts with fake addresses to facilitate money transfer. He was soon dubbed the bomb maker. His mother Arputham Kuildasan emerged as a champion for abolition of death penalty. Arivu completed BCA and MCA, and six other certificate courses — most of them with gold medal among prisoners — in jail, and is now planning to register for M Phil.