Rajiv Gandhi assassins' pardon pleas moved to SC

May 01, 2012 |

New Delhi

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that it will hear the petitions of three convicts, who are challenging the death sentence given to them for their role in the 1991 assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The three convicts - Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan - had filed the writ petitions in the Madras high court challenging the rejection of their clemency plea by President Pratibha Patil after 11 years.

The high court on August 30, 2011 stayed their execution.

The convicts have appealed to the High Court against this decision on the grounds that the Presidents office showed an inordinate and inexplainable delay in deciding their mercy petitions and so it violates Article 21 of the Constitution (Protection of life and personal liberty).

Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a suicide bomber at an election rally in Sriperumbedur on May 21, 1991. Fourteen other people also lost their lives in that blast.

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