DMK hails parole granted to Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday welcomed the parole granted to A. G. Perarivalan, one of the convicts in former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, and said it would be great relief to him and his family.

Perarivalan was on Thursday released from Vellore jail after being granted parole.

Talking to ANI, DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan said, "It is good thing. We welcome this. We have been demanding this as he was in prison for a long time. Parole will be great relief to him and his family. His mother will be happy that his son came home after a long time."

Earlier, DMK working president M. K. Stalin welcomed the release of Perarivalan and appealed to the State Government to extend the parole.

Expressing his happiness, he took to Twitter and said, "We welcome the parole granting of Perarivalan; according to his demand, we further request the parole to be extended".

Earlier on Thursday, Perarivalan was granted parole after his mother, Arputham Ammal requested the Central Prison in Vellore to grant him 30 days leave for the treatment of his father Gnanasekaran.

The request was earlier rejected by the Deputy Inspector General of prison, Vellor Range, stating that he is not eligible for ordinary leave under Rule 22.

However, the Additional Director General of police had said that leave can be granted on the condition that life convict Perarivalan should be provided with strong police escort during the period of leave.

Ammal had also filed several petitions with the Chief Minister's special cell, seeking the release of her son on parole to meet his bed-ridden father.