TN Govt not ready to free Rajiv Gandhi's killer

Chennai, Jul 11: The chances of Nalini, the life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, securing freedom early appeared remote with the Tamil Nadu Government informing Madras High Court about its strong opposition to her premature release.

The DMK Government made this clear in the counter affidavit to the impleading petition filed by Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy opposing Nalini's premature release. After the government said Dr Swamy's impleading petition was liable to be dismissed as it was against the premature release of the life convict, Mr Justice A Nagamuthu reserved orders on the Janata Party President's petition.

Citing a Supreme Court order, the government said ''imprisonment of life lasts until the last breath of the convict'' and Nalini could not seek premature release on the ground she had already served 17 years in prison.

Nalini, who was awarded capital punishment in the case,had already secured clemency when the State Governor commuted her death sentence to life sentence on her mercy petition, it said.

The government said the Supreme Court, while confirming her death sentence, said ''taking into consideration all mitigating circumstances, there is no room for any leniency, kindness or beneficence to Nalini.'' The Apex Court also said life sentence for Nalini would be inadequate and there was no alternative but to confirm the death sentence awarded by the designated court which tried the case, the government pointed out.

UNI