Rajiv Gandhi assasination: Convicts’ execution on hold

Aug 29, 2011 |

chennai

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Perarivalan, Santhan and Murugan may not be hanged on September 9 as announced.

Prison authorities are unlikely to carry out the executions when the convict’s review petitions are pending before the courts or the executive. Noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani is expected to move the petitions before the Madras high court on Monday seeking stay of the executions and also setting aside the death sentences.

“Now that the applications for stay of the executions and setting aside the death penalty are being moved before the high court, the prison officials will not carry out the hanging. Death is irreversible punishment and the hanging will be carried out only when all avenues are closed,” said rights activist and lawyer Sudha Ramalingam.

Official sources agree. “Once their lawyers file petitions in the court seeking stay of the execution, we will have to discuss the issue within the government and formally decide to put off the hanging,” a high-ranking officer told DC. He did not want to elaborate “because this is such a sensitive case”.

Legal battle aside, public protests have been gaining momentum across Tamil Nadu after the announcement that the three convicted men would be hanged on September 9 following the rejection of their mercy petitions by President Pratibha Patil.

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