R.P.RAVICHANDRAN Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition has been filed to direct the respondents to implement the State's decision to release the petitioner.

(2.) The petitioner is a convict in the criminal case registered for the assassination of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India, on the night of 21/5/1991 along with 15 others, including 9 police personnel. During the course of occurrence, 43 persons suffered grievous or simple injuries. The petitioner and other accused were sentenced to death by the Presiding Judge, Designated Court No.1, Poonamallee (Additional City Civil and Sessions Court, Chennai), by order dtd. 28/1/1998.

(3.) By judgment dtd. 11/5/1999 in Death Reference Case No.1 of 1998 along with Criminal Appeal Nos.321 to 325 of 1998 [State v. Nalini and others, (1999) 5 SCC 253], the Apex Court altered the death sentence imposed on the petitioner to imprisonment for life.