Santhan, one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has made an emotional plea to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, requesting permission to return to Sri Lanka.
After 32 years of imprisonment in India, Santhan desires to reunite with his elderly mother in Sri Lanka. He currently resides in the Tiruchi Special Camp, a facility holding foreign nationals facing criminal charges or lacking valid documents.
Santhan’s petition to the President’s Secretariat outlines his inability to meet his mother during his lengthy incarceration and highlights his ongoing struggles with identity card and passport renewals, currently under examination at the High Commissioner’s office.
The Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts faced a unique legal journey. In September 2018, the Tamil Nadu Cabinet recommended their release, but the decision was deferred to the courts by the governor.
Eventually, the Supreme Court, utilizing extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, ordered the release of the prisoners. Among them, AG Perarivalan was the first to be released before completing his sentence in May 2022. Six other detainees, including Santhan, were released six months later.
However, the fate of these individuals diverged: while some chose to return to Sri Lanka, others, like Robert Payas and Jeyakumar, opted to stay in India, creating a complex situation for these convicts as they navigate their post-imprisonment lives. Santhan’s heartfelt appeal adds another layer to this intricate narrative.
