A life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case was today granted 15 days ‘ordinary leave’ by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court with stringent conditions.
Disposing of an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu Principal Home Secretary (Prison—V) against the order of a single judge granting the leave, a bench comprising Justice K.N.Basha and Justice P.Devadoss ordered Ravi alias Ravichandran not to give any interview to media or establish any contacts with members of banned organisations during the leave period.
Ravichandran’s mother P.Rajeswari of Virudhunagar district had sought the leave for him to make arrangements for maintenance of properties and settle some family dispute.
Ravichandran, 16th accused in the case, was found guilty of participating in criminal conspiracy to assassinate the former Prime Minister and was sentenced to death along with 25 others by Special Court on January 28, 1998. The Supreme Court had commuted his sentence to life term.
Granting him leave from November 26 to December 10, the bench said Ravichandran should not speak about the case when he was outside the prison.
The escort and security should be given to the Prisoner at the state’s cost and it was the responsibility of the state to bring him back to prison.
The Judges, justifying the granting of leave, said when he was released on leave earlier on three occasions he had behaved satisfactorily and did not face any threat.
Besides, the prison authorities themselves had said his conduct and character was good and satisfactory.
