Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: SC directs to release all six convicts

They were also facing life imprisonment.

The order included the release of Nalini, PR Ravichandran, Robert Pias, Suthendraraja, Jaykumar and Sriharan reports Hindustan Times.

The order was given by a bench composed of  justices BR Gavai and BV Nagarathna.

They were ordered to be set free after spending 33 years in prison.

The apex court noted that they should be released as their remission of sentence was recommended by the Tamil Nadu government.

AG Perarivalan, who was one of the seven convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case, was released earlier on the order of the apex court.

The Supreme Court said they needed to be released on the same grounds used to free another convict, A G Perarivalan.

"We allowed their (Nalini and Ravichandran) plea and directed their release. Applicants are thus directed to be released unless wanted in any other case. Matter accordingly disposed of," the court said.

The court said the order passed in the case of Perarivalan will be applicable to both Nalini and Ravichandran.

The court noted that both Nalini and Ravichandran had displayed good conduct in the prison and had been behind bars for a very long period.

"Nalini has been behind bars for over three decades and her conduct has also been satisfactory. She has a PG diploma in computer application. Ravichandran's conduct has also been found to be satisfactory and he has undertaken various studies during his incarceration including a PG diploma in Arts," the court said.

Perarivalan was released based on a recommendation given by the Tamil Nadu government in September 2018.

Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber during an election rally in 1991.

Congress party expresses disappointment:

The Congress on Friday expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court's decision of premature release of six convicts of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case and termed it 'unacceptable'.

"The decision of the SC to set free the remaining killers of former PM Rajiv Gandhi is totally unacceptable and completely erroneous," he said as quoted by UNI.

"The Congress Party criticises it clearly and finds it wholly untenable," Congress general secretary in-charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh said in a statement.

The Congress MP added, "It is most unfortunate that the Supreme Court has not acted in consonance with the spirit of India on this issue."