No early release for Nalini: TN Govt

Appearing for the state government, advocate general G Masilamani reiterated its opposition to the premature release of the convicts on "improper technical grounds".

Chances OF an early release for Nalini, convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, receded with the Tamil Nadu government on Friday strongly opposing her plea for premature release.

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Nalini had moved the Madras High Court, seeking early release on grounds of having spent 17 years in prison with “good conduct”.

In a counter-affidavit, the government urged the court to reject the pleas of Nalini and two Sri Lankan nationals seeking the same relief, as it has taken a policy decision not to release anyone involved in the case.

Opposing any further relief for Nalini (her death sentence was commuted to life on Sonia Gandhi's request) or any other convict, the DMK government said the state couldn't interfere in a case investigated by a central agency, the CBI in this case, as per law. The state’s counter also drew attention to a much earlier Supreme Court order rejecting Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse's plea for premature release.

As the Centre is yet to file its counter, the court adjourned the case to September 17.

Nalini had moved the high court after her earlier pleas for premature release had been rejected by the Vellore Prison’s Advisory Board and the State Government’s Consultative Committee.