State government submits files of 7 convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case to Governor

“Seven files containing detailed information on the charges filed against the convicts, the trial in various courts that pronounced and confirmed the sentence and the no-objection certificate from prison officials were sent to the Governor,” said an official at Secretariat.

Confirming the development, Fisheries Minister, D Jayakumar, told DT Next, that the Cabinet resolution to free the seven convicts were sent to Governor on Sunday while a detailed report on the convicts were sent to him to facilitate their earlier release. “Governor will take a favourable decision at the earliest with the help of the detailed documents sent to him”, said Jayakumar. 

However, on Monday evening Governor Banwarilal Purohit had convened a meeting with the officials about the Cabinet resolution to free the Rajiv convicts and has decided to seek advice from the central government, said sources at Secretariat. 

“Though the Governor will not send the resolution to central government for its approval the decision to seek advice from the central government will itself delay their release”, said the sources. 

Sources also added that the government had not attached any legal opinion in the files sent to Governor as he will seek the opinion of Advocate General in the issue after he receives the documents. 

The decision to free the Rajiv convicts was passed by the state Cabinet, on Sunday, after Supreme Court gave the green signal in the issue.