Rajiv Gandhi assassins crestfallen on hearing SC stay order in Vellore jail

His aunt Nila Pappiah expressed confidence that the Tamil Nadu government would fight the court case on their behalf and expressed optimism that her nephew would be released.

She reiterated Perarivalan's mother's claim that he was innocent and not connected with the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated by an LTTE suicide bomber at Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991.

The Supreme Court stayed the release of three convicts in the assassination case by the Tamil Nadu government, saying there have been procedural lapses on the part of the state.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam directed the state government to maintain status quo regarding three prisoners whose death sentence was commuted to life term by it and said the Centre can file a fresh petition regarding the other four prisoners whose sentence has also been remitted.