CHENNAI: A division bench of the Madras High Court has ordered the immediate release of P Lakshmi Narasimhan (56), who has been undergoing life imprisonment for murder of actor Rani Padmini three decades ago.
The bench of justices Rajiv Shakdher and N Sathish Kumar ordered the release while allowing a habeas corpus writ from S L Mary, wife of Narasimhan, on December 13. The State opposed grant of the relief on grounds that detainee’s sentence had been commuted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court. Having regard to the bar contained in condition (i)(b) of the GO dated September 11, 2008, he cannot be granted premature release.
The bench pointed out that apart from placing reliance on this condition, the State had not put forth any other objection. Since the objection raised by the State had already been repelled by the same bench in Madhu vs. Tamil Nadu and other cases, the same has to be rejected in this case also. “In result, the habeas corpus petition is allowed,” the bench said and directed the government to release him forthwith, unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.