Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: Kollywood rallies for release of convicts
The Supreme Court had in September asked the Governor to consider the mercy plea from Perarivalan.
Chennai: Popular actor Vijay Sethupathi, director Pa. Ranjith and music composer G V Prakash are among the many Kollywood celebrities who have joined the speeding twitter campaign, #28YearsEnoughGovernor, which has raised the decibels in the shrill cries of anguish over the continued incarceration of the seven Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts.
"It is not just a Tamil issue. Request for consideration of human rights. Please have mercy Hon.Governor. Kindly Act NOW Sir", said the tweet from Vijay Sethupathi on #28YearsEnoughGovernor.
"Enough is enough…let them live a life…share till it reaches friends", tweeted G V Prakash, while Pa Ranjith said: "Dear Governor, Incarceration is not the solution. Do what is just!"
As the hashtag gathered momentum, several twitterati were seen slamming the CBI's Special Investigation Team accusing it of carrying out a botched probe to frame innocents while letting go, scot-free, the real culprits in the gruesome belt-bomb assassination of Rajiv Gandhi at his election rally in Sriperambudur on May 21, 1991.
Tamil Nadu Government's recommendation for the release of the seven lifers-Perarivalan, V Sriharan alias Murugan and his wife Nalini, T Suthendraraja alias Santhan, Jayakumar, Robert Payas and
P Ravichandran--languishing in prison for the last about 28 years has been lying with Governor Banwarilal Purohit for some time now, with reports suggesting that he was consulting legal opinion and also discussing with the Union Home Ministry before taking a call.
The Supreme Court had in September asked the Governor to consider the mercy plea from Perarivalan following his plea before the apex court that the Governor had not taken a decision on his mercy petition sent to him two years ago.
He was arrested by the SIT and charged with buying the 9-volt battery that was allegedly used for the belt-bomb used by the LTTE suicide bomber Dhanu to carry out the assassination. Fourteen others, including Dhanu, were killed in that blast.