T.N. Governor commutes Nalini sentence

By Our Staff Reporter

VELLORE, APRIL 25. The Tamil Nadu Governor, Ms. Fathima Beevi, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers of the State Government has commuted the death sentence on Nalini, A-1 in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, to life sentence and refused to grant mercy to the other three accused - Murugan (husband of Nalini), Santhan and Perarivalan.

The Governor was disposing of the mercy petitions filed by the four last year. The Governor had earlier rejected their mercy petitions. But when her decision was challenged in the Madras High Court by the accused saying she had failed to refer the petition to the State Council of Ministers as required by law, the High Court stayed her decision. Following this, the Governor referred the petition to the Council of Ministers which has now recommended commutation of the sentence on Nalini to life while rejecting the petition of Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan, also sentenced to death .

The Governor's order dated April 24, which was received by the jail authorities here on Tuesday, was communicated to Nalini who is jailed in the Special Prison for Women, Vellore, and the other three who are lodged in the central prison here.

It is understood that Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan might appeal for Presidential clemency following the rejection of their mercy petition by the Governor. Their lawyers are likely to visit them on Wednesday.

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