CBI awaits responses of three countries in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is waiting for the response from three countries regarding the Letters Rogatory sent to them in connection with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The counsel for the CBI explained to the court that the investigation on the majority of the pointers of the Jain Commission of Inquiry (JCI) has been completed. However, finalising of some of the issues is based on the outcome of Letters Rogatory sent abroad.

There were 25 Letters Rogatory sent to 24 countries, out of which, the execution reports in part, is awaited from three countries.

With respect to the proceedings before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, during the hearing of a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by one of the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, it is informed that the apex court had directed the CBI to file a status report on the further investigation conducted by the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA) of CBI on the mandate stipulated by the JCI and the same has been filed.

During the hearing, the clarifications sought by the court have been answered based on the progress in the investigation.

Further, during the hearing, on a plea of the petitioner on the issue of a pending petition under Art 161 of the Constitution of India, the court directed the counsel for the petitioner to ascertain the status of the same from the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme court asked the Tamil Nadu Government to file a detailed status report within two weeks on the release of those convicted for Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.

Gandhi was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumpudur in May 1991.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice L Nageshwar Rao was hearing the matter pertaining to the belt bomb investigation in the assassination case which involved a convict named A G Perarivalan.

The bench also comprising Justice Deepak Gupta posted the matter for further hearing after two weeks.

Besides Perarivalan, Ravichandran, S Nalini Sriharan, Murugan, Santhan, Robert Pious, and Jayakumar were convicted in the case.

The Centre had, on the last date of hearing on January 14, filed a status report regarding the belt bomb investigation in the case.

The top court's two-judge bench had, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the report and asked the Centre to present the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) before it.

The court, after hearing the contentions put forth by one of the juniors of the ASG, Pinkey Anand, asked the Centre to file a fresh updated detailed status report to clarify its position on the issue and had adjourned the matter for today.