Early release of Rajiv plotter opposed

(July 12, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Tamil Nadu Government on Friday told the Madras High Court that it opposed the plea of Nalini, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking her premature release.

The submission was made before Justice S Nagamuthu who reserved orders on the petition filed by Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy seeking to implead himself in Nalini's petition, after hearing the counsels of the government, Swamy and Nalini. (Video)

Opposing Swamy's petition, state Advocate General G Masilamani, representing the government, urged the court to reject the petition as it was devoid of any merits and was based only upon Swamy's apprehension.

He submitted that when the government was opposing Nalini's petition, "the apprehension of the petitioner is totally unwarranted and his presence as a party in the writ petition will not in any way alter the government's position."

"The government has passed an order rejecting Nalini's premature release and it is capable of defending its order.

Swamy is totally a stranger in the case. His impleading petition should not be allowed," he submitted.

To this, Swamy's counsel G Rajagopal submitted that the matter was of serious public interest as it involved assassination of a former prime minister.

The petitioner legitimately apprehend that the Centre and state government may collude with the respondent (Nalini) and take a legally incorrect, arbitrary, unreasonable, malafide and biased stand in this case and thus will aid the premature release of Nalini, he said. - Sri Lanka Guardian