TN govt opposes Nalini's plea for premature release

Chennai: The dispute over the future of one of Rajiv Gandhi's assassins, Nalini Murugan, continues in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government had made it clear that it will oppose Nalini's release on grounds of good behaviour and will be filing a counter.

On Friday, the government also told Madras High Court that it is against Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy's petition in the case.

Justice S Nagamuthu, who is hearing the case, reserved orders on Swamy's petition.

Swamy in his petition had asked the court to implead him in the case, after Nalini asked for an early release.

Opposing Swamy's petition, state Advocate General G Masilamani urged the court to reject the petition as it was devoid of any merits and was based only upon Swamy's apprehension.

Masilamani argued that when the government was opposing Nalini's petition, "the apprehension of the petitioner is totally unwarranted and his presence as a party in the writ petition will not in any way alter the government's position."

"The government has passed an order rejecting Nalini's premature release and it is capable of defending its order. Swamy is totally a stranger in the case. His impleading petition should not be allowed," he submitted.

To this, Swamy's counsel G Rajagopal submitted that the matter was of serious public interest as it involved assassination of a former prime minister.

Opposing Swamy's petition, Nalini's counsel Doraiswamy alleged that Swamy and his "close friend" Chandraswamy were one among the "suspects" in the assassination case.

"The Jain Commission, appointed by then Union government, to inquire into the events leading to the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi had questioned Swamy and had observed that a consistent and persistent effort was there on his (Swamy) part not to answer the questions which are most relevant in order to find out the truth," he submitted and added that Swamy had no locus standi to implead himself in the petition.

Nalini, who is serving a life term, has spent 17 years in jail. A visit to her by Rajiv Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Vadra, in March, had given her some hope.

(With inputs from PTI)