Nalini Sriharan shifted from Vellore jail

Chennai, June 28 (ANI): Nalini Sriharan, who is serving life term in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has been shifted out of the Vellore jail after she complained about harassment by the jail authorities.

Nalini, who has spent 19 years in Vellore jail, will now be lodged in Chennai's Puzhal Central Prison.

In a letter written to State Inspector General of Prisons, Nalini had alleged that the jail authorities are treating her like a "contagious disease" patient.

"All the prisoners have been prevented from moving around near my cell. Neither the prison staff nor the prisoners are allowed to talk to me. I am being treated like a person with contagious disease," Nalini stated.

She also alleged her cell had not been cleaned for days and expressed fears that officials may be 'planting' something and 'recover'.

On May 10, the government had informed the State Assembly that she had made calls to foreign countries, including Sri Lanka and Britain, from a mobile phone seized from her cell.

Nalini has been convicted on 16 counts of murder, and found guilty under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code on all counts.

She was also convicted under Section 3 of TADA and Section 120-B of the IPC, dealing with conspiracy.

Nalini's original death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after Congress President Sonia Gandhi sought a reprieve for her after she had had a baby daughter. (ANI)