SC commutes death sentence of three convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday commuted death sentence of three assassins of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi to life imprisonment citing the 11-year delay on the part of the Centre in deciding their mercy plea, reports said.

A bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, justice Ranjan Gogoi and justice Shiva Kirti Singh pronounced the verdict.

The apex court rejected Centre’s contention that delay in deciding mercy plea of convicts V Sriharan alias Murugan, AG Perarivlan alias Arivu and T Suthendraraja alias Santhan did not result in agony.

“We implore the government to render advice in reasonable time to the President for taking a decision on mercy pleas,” the SC said in its verdict.

“We are confident that the mercy plea can be decided much faster than what is being done now.”