_{Arputhammal Ammal, mother of AG Perarivalan}

Arputhammal Ammal, mother of the accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case,  AG Perarivalan, has pleaded through a video message to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, asking for her son’s release. 

In her video statement, Ammal details her 30-year long battle to have her son released, stating, “In recent times my mental agony has only grown".

"My son has serious health issues and is at severe risk of Covid-19," she added. "Just two days prior to his coming home on parole, his father fell down and his hip was badly damaged, leaving him bedridden. My son is ill and can’t get necessary treatment in jail and my husband is immobile. It’s really necessary that our son remains with us at this difficult time”

Ammal went on to explain that her son, AG Perarivalan has languished in jail for 30 years, and despite her endless battle for his release, he lost his precious years in prison. “How long are we going to be alive…? we want our son during our final years… Please ensure that my son doesn’t go back to jail, Chief Minister,” Ammal pleaded.  

Perarivalan was released on parole, on 9 October 2020. His parole was also recently extended for two weeks, by the Madras High Court due to his health condition. 

Recently, the Supreme court of India expressed unhappiness with the Tamil Nadu government over its unnecessarily lengthy process in AG Perarivalan’s case. The highest court also formally asked the Tamil Nadu Government to request the state Governor expedite his decision in AG Perarivalan’s case

A day after the Supreme court’s request, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, visited Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss “important issues related to Tamil Nadu,” as stated by the Governor's office. Shortly after Purohit’s visit, Tamil Nadu ministers advocated for the seven convicts’ release, putting pressure on Governor Banwarilal Purohit to take action. 

AG Perarivalan connection to the Rajiv Gandhi assassination

Perarivalan was given the death penalty in 1991 for his involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate the former Prime Minister. He was charged with providing a 9-volt battery to alleged co-conspirator Sivarasan, which was used in the explosive device that killed Rajiv Gandhi. In 2014, the apex court commuted his sentence to life imprisonment, on grounds of an 11-year delay in deciding the mercy pleas by the Centre.

Perarivalan has also said in the past, he was a “19-year-old boy when his mother handed him over to the CBI and now he is 45 years old, lost all his prime youth in prison that too in death row under solitary confinement for more than 16 years”. Read more on Perarivalan's difficult circumstances while on death row here. 

For more information visit DNA india.