Centre's reply to RTI shocks Perarivalan

The response of the Ministry of Home Affairs to his RTI application has shocked A G Perarivalan, a death row convict in the assassination case of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

“It was a shocking news. I wonder how the Ministry of Home Affairs can afford to lose the reports of the Verma Commission, the first commission constituted to investigate the security lapses that had led to the assassination of the former Prime Minister,” said Arputhammal, quoting her son Perarivalan. She met him at the Vellore Central Prison for Men on Thursday.

Perarivalan had filed the RTI application on October 7, 2011, seeking information on eight points regarding the Justice J S Verma commission of inquiry and Justice M C Jain commission.

He had also sought the certified copies of all interim and final reports of the two committees and copies of the action taken report, prepared by the Centre on the recommendation of the commissions.

However, the MHA in its response to the Central Information Commission (CIC) on July 9 had stated that,“The complete reports pertaining to the Justice Verma Commission of Inquiry are still not traceable.”

He had been waging a legal battle for nearly two decades to prove his innocence. But, the lackadaisical attitude of the government and its agencies has irked him, Arputhammal said quoting Perarivalan.

“The information and documents sought under the RTI Act are very relevant and crucial to prove Perarivalan’s innocence. But he has been denied access to information,” said Selvaraj Murugaiyan, a representative of People’s Movement Against Death Penalty.

Pointing out that the CBI’s Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency is still investigating,  he questioned, “Before the investigation is completed, how can an accused be hanged?”