Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission issues travel documents for Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday informed the Madras High Court that the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission has issued temporary travel documents to the three released convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, and they would be deported to their home country as soon as the Government of India clears them for travel.
Additional Public Prosecutor R Muniapparaj made the submission before a division bench of Justices R Suresh Kumar and K Kumaresh Babu when a petition filed by Murugan came up for hearing. He had sought a direction to the Tamil Nadu Rehabilitation Director to issue him a duly authorised photo identity card to apply for travel documents.
Muniapparaj produced a letter written to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) on the matter by the Public department. According to the letter, the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission issued temporary travel documents valid till September 22, 2024 to the three Sri Lankan nationals.
The Additional PP stated that as soon as the FRRO issues the necessary orders, the three men will be deported to Sri Lanka. Since the travel documents were issued, the question of issuing a photo identity card did not arise, he told the bench. The bench disposed of the petition since no further order was required on the matter since the travel documents had been issued.
At present, the three convicts have been held at the high security foreigners detention centre in Tiruchy.
Santhan had died waiting for clearance
Santhan, one of the released convicts, recently died of liver-related complications as necessary clearance was being processed for his travel back to Sri Lanka as he had requested. His body was flown to the island country.
Court questions delay in deportation
The Supreme Court, on November 11, 2022, ordered the release of six persons convicted for assassinating the former prime minister -- Nalini, her husband Murugan @ Sriharan, Ravichandran, Santhan, Jeyakumar and Robert Payas – after they had been in prison for a period of over three decades.
Of them, Murugan, Santhan, Robert Payas and Jeyakumar, who are Sri Lankan nationals, have since been detained at the special camp at the Central Prison, Tiruchy.
Santhan recently died of liver-related complications even as necessary clearance was being processed for his travel back to Sri Lanka as he had requested. His body was later flown to the island country.
After his death, the Madras High Court questioned the reason for the delay in his deportation. Later, the Tamil Nadu government took steps from its end to deport Murugan, Robert Payas and Jeyakumar.