Chennai: Nalini, the life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, who sought premature release, received fresh hopes as the advisory board constituted by the Tamil Nadu government met her at the Vellore central prison to consider her plea on Wednesday.
After more than 15 months, the state government, as directed by the Madras High Court, constituted two advisory boards, one to consider the premature release of 10 life convicts, serving sentence at the Vellore prison and the other to consider the plea of Nalini for early release.
However, sources say the Centre and the Tamil Nadu Congress leaders are not in favour of releasing Nalini.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and core group members from the Congress are set to meet on the issue.
Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy, who is against Nalini's release said "The Advisory Board's recommendation was improperly decided. The High Court had asked for a reconsideration and the state government used that to say that the High Court had actually recommended a new decison and they recommended that she should be given a life imprisonment instead of death sentence. Now, they are doing the same thing here but the only problem is that the law is completely against them and I am one of the parties who has to be heard before an order can be passed."
The boards, headed by District Collector C Rajendran and comprising sessions judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Superintendent of Prison; Regional probation officer and a non-official member met the 10 life convicts, including Robert Payas, accused in the Rajiv case separately and Nalini separately in the women's cell.
After meeting the accused, Mr Rajendran told waiting newspersons that the board would send its recommendations to the state government and it was for the government to take a final decision on the request for premature release of the accused.
Nalini's request for premature release was first rejected by the authorities in October 2007 after which, she moved the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the state government and prison authorities to release her.
The High Court, in its order on September 24, 2008 had directed the state government to constitute the advisory board to consider the plea for premature release.
Nalini, who was cited as the first accused in the case, was arrested on June 14, 1991 along with her husband Sriharan alias Murugan, a LTTE militant, who was awarded death sentence and lodged in the Vellore prision.
Nalini too was awarded death sentence, but thanks to the intervention of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, her death sentence was commuted to life by the Tamil Nadu Governor in August 2000.
Nalini moved the High Court, seeking premature release in 2007, stating she wanted to settle in her life and take care of her teen-aged daughter, who is staying with her in-laws.
The DMK government, however, opposed her plea for early release.
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