Madras HC to hear Nalini Murugan's petition today

Chennai, Aug 11: The Madras High Court will on Monday, Aug 11 hear a petition filed by Nalini Murugan seeking premature release from the life imprisonment that she is serving in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Earlier, the hearing was adjourned after Advocate General G Masilamani sought time to file a counter affidavit.

Nalini had submitted before the court that her representation to the Tamil Nadu government, seeking early release, was not considered in view of a condition mentioned in a Government Order (GO) that those life convicts who fall under Section 435 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) would not be eligible for consideration for premature release.

Nalini, 37, had moved the High Court after her plea for release on the ground of good conduct and having completed over 17 years in jail was rejected by the Tamil Nadu Government.

Initially, Nalini was sentenced to death along with her husband Sriharan alias Murugan and two others.

Later, following an appeal by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her sentence was commuted to life-imprisonment on the ground that Nalini delivered a baby girl at the Vellore Central prison.

ANI