“I had no role” in the assassination of India’s former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Nalini Sriharan, one of the six convicts who was let go by the Supreme Court,&nbsp; said after she stepped out of the prison on Monday.

She further asserted that it was her husband’s friends who plotted the killing, and added that she was declared prime convict just because of her acquaintance with them.

."Otherwise, I would have ended my life. Do you think I have murdered the former prime minister? 17 murder cases have been framed against me," the 55-year-old Nalini said in her first reaction to the media after she stepped out of the special prison for women in Vellore, about 150 kilometres from southern Chennai city.

Her husband Murugan -- a Sri Lankan national -- along with another convict Santhan, also from Sri Lanka, were released from the Vellore prison. Besides them, two other Sri Lankan nationals -- Robert Payas and Jayakumar -- were released from the Puzhal prison here. All four were taken to the special refugee camp in Tiruchirappalli to be lodged there.

<h2>Watch |&nbsp;Rajiv Gandhi's assassinators to be released after being initially sentenced to death</h2>

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Recalling her meeting with ex-PM’s daughter and current Congress party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in jail, she said, “She is a very kind person. She was an angel. And she made me respect myself because... we were not treated properly in jail.”

Nalini said that Priyanka got very emotional when Priyanka was asked about her father’s killing.

"She asked me about her father's killing. She got emotional for her father. She cried too," she said at a news conference.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/node/533256" hreflang="en">Supreme Court frees six killers of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi&nbsp;</a>

Last week on Friday, the Supreme Court freed Nalini Srihara, apart from five other remaining convicts, who were serving life term for about three decades in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The apex court used its earlier judgement in releasing another convict A G Perarivalan, saying that it was equally applicable to them.

Nalini said that she wanted to join her daughter in London and be a homemaker taking care of her husband and her daughter. She hoped that her husband too would join her soon.

Nalini was the longest-serving woman prisoner in the country. She was 24 when she got arrested in 1991. She worked as a stenographer at a private firm when she met Murugan, a member of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

(With inputs from agencies)

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“I had no role” in the assassination of India’s former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Nalini Sriharan, one of the six convicts who was let go by the Supreme Court, said after she stepped out of the prison on Monday.

“I had no role” in the assassination of India’s former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Nalini Sriharan, one of the six convicts who was let go by the Supreme Court, said after she stepped out of the prison on Monday. She further asserted that it was her husband’s friends who plotted the killing, and added that she was declared prime convict just because of her acquaintance with them. ."Otherwise, I would have ended my life. Do you think I have murdered the former prime minister? 17 murder cases have been framed against me," the 55-year-old Nalini said in her first reaction to the media after she stepped out of the special prison for women in Vellore, about 150 kilometres from southern Chennai city. Her husband Murugan -- a Sri Lankan national -- along with another convict Santhan, also from Sri Lanka, were released from the Vellore prison. Besides them, two other Sri Lankan nationals -- Robert Payas and Jayakumar -- were released from the Puzhal prison here. All four were taken to the special refugee camp in Tiruchirappalli to be lodged there. Watch | Rajiv Gandhi's assassinators to be released after being initially sentenced to death Recalling her meeting with ex-PM’s daughter and current Congress party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in jail, she said, “She is a very kind person. She was an angel. And she made me respect myself because... we were not treated properly in jail.” Nalini said that Priyanka got very emotional when Priyanka was asked about her father’s killing. "She asked me about her father's killing. She got emotional for her father. She cried too," she said at a news conference. Also read | Supreme Court frees six killers of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi Last week on Friday, the Supreme Court freed Nalini Srihara, apart from five other remaining convicts, who were serving life term for about three decades in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The apex court used its earlier judgement in releasing another convict A G Perarivalan, saying that it was equally applicable to them. Nalini said that she wanted to join her daughter in London and be a homemaker taking care of her husband and her daughter. She hoped that her husband too would join her soon. Nalini was the longest-serving woman prisoner in the country. She was 24 when she got arrested in 1991. She worked as a stenographer at a private firm when she met Murugan, a member of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Had no role in assassination of India’s ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi,' says Nalini Sriharan, one of released convicts

The six convicts serving life sentences for the assassination of India’s former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi were set free by the country’s Supreme Court on Friday.&nbsp;The apex court used one of its earlier judgment&nbsp;of releasing&nbsp;AG Perarivalan, one of the co-convicts,&nbsp;to release the remaining prisoners. &nbsp;

On May 18, the court invoked its extraordinary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to order the release of Perarivalan, who had served over 30 years in jail.&nbsp;

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and B V Nagarathna said the judgment of Perarivalan is equally applicable in their matter.&nbsp;

"In so far as the applicants before us are concerned, their death sentences were commuted to life on account of delay...We direct that all the appellants are deemed to have served their sentence...The applicants are thus directed to be released unless required in any other case," the bench said.&nbsp;

Two of the convicts—Nalini and Ravichandran—had approached the Supreme Court seeking premature release, citing the&nbsp;Perarivalan judgment.&nbsp;

Both had challenged a June 17 order of the Madras High Court, which rejected their pleas for early release.&nbsp;

Nalini, Ravichandran, Santhan, Murugan, Perarivalan, Robert Payas and Jayakumar were sentenced to life terms in the case.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-summit-pm-modi-to-hold-bilateral-with-french-prez-uk-pm-533198" hreflang="en">G20 Summit: PM Modi to hold bilateral with French prez, UK PM</a>

On May 21, 1991, the former prime minister was assassinated at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu, during an election rally.&nbsp;

In May 1999, the SC had upheld death sentences to four convicts Perarivalan, Murugan, Santhan and Sriharan.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-to-use-first-green-bonds-to-finance-climate-projects-532662" hreflang="en">India to use first green bonds to finance climate projects: Finance minister</a>

But in 2014, the apex court commuted the death sentence of Perarivalan to life imprisonment along with those of Santhan and Murugan on grounds of delay in deciding their mercy petitions. &nbsp;

Nalini's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2001 on the consideration that she has a daughter.&nbsp;

The Tamil Nadu government has repeatedly supported the early release of convicts and on occasion persuaded the central government to heed their request.&nbsp;

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The six convicts serving life sentences for the assassination of India’s former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi were set free by the country’s Supreme Court on Friday.

The six convicts serving life sentences for the assassination of India’s former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi were set free by the country’s Supreme Court on Friday. The apex court used one of its earlier judgment of releasing AG Perarivalan, one of the co-convicts, to release the remaining prisoners. On May 18, the court invoked its extraordinary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to order the release of Perarivalan, who had served over 30 years in jail. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and B V Nagarathna said the judgment of Perarivalan is equally applicable in their matter. "In so far as the applicants before us are concerned, their death sentences were commuted to life on account of delay...We direct that all the appellants are deemed to have served their sentence...The applicants are thus directed to be released unless required in any other case," the bench said. Two of the convicts—Nalini and Ravichandran—had approached the Supreme Court seeking premature release, citing the Perarivalan judgment. Both had challenged a June 17 order of the Madras High Court, which rejected their pleas for early release. Nalini, Ravichandran, Santhan, Murugan, Perarivalan, Robert Payas and Jayakumar were sentenced to life terms in the case. Also read | G20 Summit: PM Modi to hold bilateral with French prez, UK PM On May 21, 1991, the former prime minister was assassinated at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu, during an election rally. In May 1999, the SC had upheld death sentences to four convicts Perarivalan, Murugan, Santhan and Sriharan. Also read | India to use first green bonds to finance climate projects: Finance minister But in 2014, the apex court commuted the death sentence of Perarivalan to life imprisonment along with those of Santhan and Murugan on grounds of delay in deciding their mercy petitions. Nalini's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2001 on the consideration that she has a daughter. The Tamil Nadu government has repeatedly supported the early release of convicts and on occasion persuaded the central government to heed their request. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: Supreme Court frees six killers of India's former prime minister

Rajiv Gandhi's death anniversary: Here's the timeline of events that led to death of India's youngest PM

Amid reports of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case life-convict Nalini’s suicide attempt in the Vellore Prison for women, her advocate Pugalendhi in a telephonic conversation told WION that the preliminary information was not convincing enough.

“Nalini is a fighter and has endured so much in her 29-year incarceration, I doubt if the reasons stated by officials would lead her to take such an extreme step. She has never done anything of this kind during her nearly 3-decade jail term. Perhaps, there is more to it than meets the eye” her advocate Pugalendhi says.&nbsp;

Pugalendhi said that he received a call at the intervening night between Monday and Tuesday and was informed that Nalini had attempted suicide in the Prison for Women in Vellore. He states the jail officials’ version, which says that Nalini and another life-convict had a misunderstanding and a quarrel, which aggravated. It is said that the life-convict complained to the jailer about the tussle with Nalini.&nbsp;

Apparently, the jailer had conducted an enquiry with Nalini at around 8:30pm, after which a disturbed Nalini attempted suicide. While some versions state that Nalini threatened to take the extreme step, others say that she had attempted suicide by strangulating using a cloth.&nbsp;

Pugalendhi stated that tussles between prisoners and wardens taking sides were common occurrences in jails. But he points out certain anomalies - “it is likely that the prisoner might have complained to the jailer before 6pm, when the prisoners are required to return to their cells. If the complaint was given at 6pm, why was it necessary for the jailer to visit Nalini and question her at 8:30pm for what seems to be a normal issue? After 7pm the jailer doesn’t visit the prisoners who are in their cells, there are only routine visits that happen daily in the morning. What was the need to go in at night and question her?”

Suspecting that there is more to it than what is being said about this attempted suicide, Pugalendhi talks about the torture and mental agony that Nalini has faced over the last 29 years of her life, which she has spent in jail. He asserts that Nalini has always been a fighter who has stood up for her rights and believed in fighting legal battles. “From how much I know her, she is not the kind of person that would think of taking an extreme step for the above reasons. She has not attempted anything of this sort in the last 29 years. She is a strong character” he says.&nbsp;

 
Pugalendhi also talks about another important aspect that might hold a clue to what went on inside the prison. “In the weekly call that convicts can have with their lawyers, Nalini’s husband, Murugan (a) Sriharan had recently said that legal action be initiated to shift Nalini to the Puzhal prison”.

Nalini is lodged in the Central Prison for Women in Vellore in Tamil Nadu, her husband Murugan (a) Sriharan is lodged in the Prison for male convicts in the same facility. Nalini and her husband are allowed to make two calls to each other every month. However, there is s case pending in the Madras High court on whether Nalini and her husband can make video calls to their family members who are residing abroad, in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.&nbsp;

Seven people including Nalini and her husband were convicted by the special TADA court for their role in the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21st by an LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, in the outskirts of Chennai.&nbsp;

The convicts were initially sentenced to death, but later it was commuted to a life imprisonment. Besides Nalini and her husband Murugan (a) Sriharan, the other convicts are Perarivalan, Santhan, Jayakumar, Ravichandran and Robert Payas.

Amid reports of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case life-convict Nalini’s suicide attempt in the Vellore Prison for women, her advocate Pugalendhi in a telephonic conversation told WION that the preliminary information was not convincing enough.

Amid reports of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case life-convict Nalini’s suicide attempt in the Vellore Prison for women, her advocate Pugalendhi in a telephonic conversation told WION that the preliminary information was not convincing enough. “Nalini is a fighter and has endured so much in her 29-year incarceration, I doubt if the reasons stated by officials would lead her to take such an extreme step. She has never done anything of this kind during her nearly 3-decade jail term. Perhaps, there is more to it than meets the eye” her advocate Pugalendhi says. Pugalendhi said that he received a call at the intervening night between Monday and Tuesday and was informed that Nalini had attempted suicide in the Prison for Women in Vellore. He states the jail officials’ version, which says that Nalini and another life-convict had a misunderstanding and a quarrel, which aggravated. It is said that the life-convict complained to the jailer about the tussle with Nalini. Apparently, the jailer had conducted an enquiry with Nalini at around 8:30pm, after which a disturbed Nalini attempted suicide. While some versions state that Nalini threatened to take the extreme step, others say that she had attempted suicide by strangulating using a cloth. Pugalendhi stated that tussles between prisoners and wardens taking sides were common occurrences in jails. But he points out certain anomalies - “it is likely that the prisoner might have complained to the jailer before 6pm, when the prisoners are required to return to their cells. If the complaint was given at 6pm, why was it necessary for the jailer to visit Nalini and question her at 8:30pm for what seems to be a normal issue? After 7pm the jailer doesn’t visit the prisoners who are in their cells, there are only routine visits that happen daily in the morning. What was the need to go in at night and question her?” Suspecting that there is more to it than what is being said about this attempted suicide, Pugalendhi talks about the torture and mental agony that Nalini has faced over the last 29 years of her life, which she has spent in jail. He asserts that Nalini has always been a fighter who has stood up for her rights and believed in fighting legal battles. “From how much I know her, she is not the kind of person that would think of taking an extreme step for the above reasons. She has not attempted anything of this sort in the last 29 years. She is a strong character” he says. Pugalendhi also talks about another important aspect that might hold a clue to what went on inside the prison. “In the weekly call that convicts can have with their lawyers, Nalini’s husband, Murugan (a) Sriharan had recently said that legal action be initiated to shift Nalini to the Puzhal prison”. Nalini is lodged in the Central Prison for Women in Vellore in Tamil Nadu, her husband Murugan (a) Sriharan is lodged in the Prison for male convicts in the same facility. Nalini and her husband are allowed to make two calls to each other every month. However, there is s case pending in the Madras High court on whether Nalini and her husband can make video calls to their family members who are residing abroad, in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. Seven people including Nalini and her husband were convicted by the special TADA court for their role in the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21st by an LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, in the outskirts of Chennai. The convicts were initially sentenced to death, but later it was commuted to a life imprisonment. Besides Nalini and her husband Murugan (a) Sriharan, the other convicts are Perarivalan, Santhan, Jayakumar, Ravichandran and Robert Payas.

Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case: Lawyer raises questions over Nalini’s suicide attempt in jail, suspects foulplay 

Nalini Sriharan, a life convict in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, reportedly attempted suicide in the Special Prison for Women in Vellore.

According to Nalini’s lawyer Advocate P Pugalenthi “There was a quarrel between Nalini and another life convict. The other person complained to the jailer about the tussle. Jailer conducted an enquiry with Nalini. It is said that Nalini was severely disturbed and attempted suicide.”

“Some say that Nalini threatened to take the extreme step and someday. She’s endured much more torture and fought it legally. It is doubtful if she would resort to an extreme measure for such a reason. I have known her as a fighter who stands up for her rights, we need to understand if there is some other serious issue,” added Advocate P Pugalenthi.

Last year Nalini, one of the seven convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination case had&nbsp;demanded mercy killing along with her husband Murugan alias Sriharan, who is also a convict in the case.

Nalini Sriharan, the lone surviving member of the five-member squad behind the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, has been serving a life term in Vellore Central Prison for the past 29 years.

Nalini and her husband Murugan, a Sri Lankan national, are among the seven convicts in the case who are serving life imprisonment in the case related to the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by an LTTE suicide bomber during an election rally at Sriperumpudur near here on May 21, 1991.

The seven convicts are AG Perarivalan, V Sriharan alias Murugan, T Suthendraraja alias Santhan, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, Ravichandran and Nalini Sriharan. They include both Indians and Sri Lankans. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Nalini Sriharan, a life convict in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, reportedly attempted suicide in the Special Prison for Women in Vellore.

Nalini Sriharan, a life convict in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, reportedly attempted suicide in the Special Prison for Women in Vellore. According to Nalini’s lawyer Advocate P Pugalenthi “There was a quarrel between Nalini and another life convict. The other person complained to the jailer about the tussle. Jailer conducted an enquiry with Nalini. It is said that Nalini was severely disturbed and attempted suicide.” “Some say that Nalini threatened to take the extreme step and someday. She’s endured much more torture and fought it legally. It is doubtful if she would resort to an extreme measure for such a reason. I have known her as a fighter who stands up for her rights, we need to understand if there is some other serious issue,” added Advocate P Pugalenthi. Last year Nalini, one of the seven convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination case had demanded mercy killing along with her husband Murugan alias Sriharan, who is also a convict in the case. Nalini Sriharan, the lone surviving member of the five-member squad behind the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, has been serving a life term in Vellore Central Prison for the past 29 years. Nalini and her husband Murugan, a Sri Lankan national, are among the seven convicts in the case who are serving life imprisonment in the case related to the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by an LTTE suicide bomber during an election rally at Sriperumpudur near here on May 21, 1991. The seven convicts are AG Perarivalan, V Sriharan alias Murugan, T Suthendraraja alias Santhan, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, Ravichandran and Nalini Sriharan. They include both Indians and Sri Lankans. (With inputs from agencies)

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict Nalini Sriharan reportedly attempted suicide in jail

In pics: Nalini Sriharan and her role in Rajiv Gandhi's assasination

In an alleged statement, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has claimed that they had 'no link'&nbsp;in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991.

The alleged letter from LTTE has been signed by their Political Wing representative Kurburan Guruswami and Legal Wing representative Lathan Chandralingam.

Claiming itself to be an organization "by the people, for the people and of the people of Tamil Eelam," LTTE, in its alleged statement, said that time and again they have "clearly demonstrated with evidence in support that the LTTE has not been involved in any kind with the murder of Rajiv Gandhi, this unverified allegation is still being imposed."

"Due to this defamation campaign, our people are being pushed into instability. Some others even go too far as to assert that the lives of the 1,50 000 people killed in Mullivaikaal do not worth altogether to the single life of Rajiv Gandhi".

"This declaration is hurting,"&nbsp;the alleged statement read.

"The LTTE never intended to demolish the leadership of India nor attack India. We never turned our guns toward any person or leader who was not part of Sri Lanka. We never planned any attack against any non-Sri Lankan leader. We never developed any action against any national leader of India," it added.

It further claimed that "the pre-planned murder of Rajiv Gandhi is the result of a conspiracy motivated by the purpose of dismantling the strong relationship between the Indian government and the LTTE."

"We ask for an immediate cessation of this allegation of defamation upon the LTTE concerning the murder of Rajiv Gandhi. As a result, we hope to put an end to the infamy on the LTTE on an international platform and that the International Community would at last end the ban on the LTTE that prevents our People to breathe the air of freedom," LTTE added. 
&nbsp;

In an alleged statement, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has claimed that they had 'no link' in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991.

In an alleged statement, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has claimed that they had 'no link' in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991. The alleged letter from LTTE has been signed by their Political Wing representative Kurburan Guruswami and Legal Wing representative Lathan Chandralingam. Claiming itself to be an organization "by the people, for the people and of the people of Tamil Eelam," LTTE, in its alleged statement, said that time and again they have "clearly demonstrated with evidence in support that the LTTE has not been involved in any kind with the murder of Rajiv Gandhi, this unverified allegation is still being imposed." "Due to this defamation campaign, our people are being pushed into instability. Some others even go too far as to assert that the lives of the 1,50 000 people killed in Mullivaikaal do not worth altogether to the single life of Rajiv Gandhi". "This declaration is hurting," the alleged statement read. "The LTTE never intended to demolish the leadership of India nor attack India. We never turned our guns toward any person or leader who was not part of Sri Lanka. We never planned any attack against any non-Sri Lankan leader. We never developed any action against any national leader of India," it added. It further claimed that "the pre-planned murder of Rajiv Gandhi is the result of a conspiracy motivated by the purpose of dismantling the strong relationship between the Indian government and the LTTE." "We ask for an immediate cessation of this allegation of defamation upon the LTTE concerning the murder of Rajiv Gandhi. As a result, we hope to put an end to the infamy on the LTTE on an international platform and that the International Community would at last end the ban on the LTTE that prevents our People to breathe the air of freedom," LTTE added.

'No link' to Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, claims LTTE