Perarivalan was convicted for supplying batteries used in a bomb that killed Gandhi in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991


India's top court on Wednesday ordered the release of a man jailed over the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, more than 30 years after he was first arrested.
A bench headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao invoked extraordinary powers to grant relief to A.G. Perarivalan, 50, who was already granted parole in March.
Perarivalan was convicted for supplying batteries used in a bomb that killed Gandhi in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991.
The bombing was carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a Sri Lankan armed separatist group.
Gandhi's killing by a suicide bomber was seen as retaliation for a 1987 Indian government pact with Sri Lanka to disarm the Tamil guerrillas.
India later withdrew troops deployed to the island country after losing 1,200 of them at the hands of the rebels.
Perarivalan, who was arrested in 1991 and was 19 at the time of the assassination, was first sentenced to death, but later had his punishment commuted to a life sentence.
His case was mired in legal wranglings since he filed a mercy petition in 2015 between the state and the central government.
Tamil Nadu's governor passed the decision on the plea to India's president, but the Supreme Court ruled that this did not have “constitutional value” and invoked special powers to order Perarivalan's release.
Six others are still in jail serving life sentences in the case.
Rajiv Gandhi became India's youngest-ever leader after his mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was assassinated in October 1984. He ruled until losing an election five years later.
Luxembourg announces intention to recognize Palestinian state
- 9 گھنٹے قبل

Sierra CEO Bret Taylor on why the AI bubble feels like the dotcom boom
- 2 گھنٹے قبل
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Twelve killed in Malaysia landslides after week-long downpour
- 7 گھنٹے قبل

Roku wants you to see a lot more AI-generated ads
- 2 گھنٹے قبل
First ODI: Sidra Ameen’s ton helps Pakistan women set South Africa 256-run target
- 8 گھنٹے قبل

Amazon’s Thursday Night Football broadcasts add more AI to the NFL
- 2 گھنٹے قبل
India says trade talks with US were ‘positive’
- 9 گھنٹے قبل

Nintendo Direct September 2025: all the news and trailers
- 2 گھنٹے قبل

Microsoft avoids EU fine after Slack complained about Teams bundling
- 2 گھنٹے قبل
Asia Cup T20: Bangladesh defeat Afghanistan by 8 runs
- 7 گھنٹے قبل

You can now play Silksong on flagship Android phones — and pick up where you left off on PC
- 2 گھنٹے قبل

Wrestlepalooza 2025: Date, time, channel, card, how to watch
- 37 منٹ قبل