Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict Perarivalan set free after 30 years

After being imprisoned for 30 years in a murder case, AG Perarivalan (50), convicted in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case, received a big relief. The Supreme Court has granted key orders for Perarivalan's release. Perarivalan was sentenced to life in jail by a three-judge panel led by Justice Lau Nageswara Rao. The order was issued by the Supreme Court after hearing a petition submitted by Perarivalan seeking the suspension of his life sentence in the case. On May 18, 2022, just three days before Rajiv Gandhi's 31st death anniversary, a bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao, BR Gavai, and AS Bopanna issued an order using Article 142, saying Perarivalan's life sentence should be suspended and he should be freed. Perarivalan, who was arrested when he was 19, will be released at the age of 50. Perarivalan is one of seven people convicted in the killing of Rajiv Gandhi. During these 30 years, dozens of compassion petitions and government resolutions requesting his release were enacted.