Rajiv Gandhi's assassination: Majeed Memon lauds SC dismissal of curative petition

National Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon on Wednesday praised the Supreme Court's decision to dismiss the curative petition moved by the Centre for releasing three convicts accused of assassinating former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, saying this decision would send a message that the courts function keeping all emotions aside.

"Well, the honourable Supreme Court deemed it appropriate not to entertain the curative petition moved by the Centre on the question of releasing the convicts of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. I think this decision would go a long way, because, we have to send a message across that the courts are functioning without emotion, the courts have not taken into account any political, religious or social factor, and wisely, the learned judges deemed it fit in the interest of truth and justice," Memon told ANI.

"These people will have to spend the rest of the time in prison. This curative petition's dismissal is an important development today," he added.

The noted criminal lawyer further said the convicts can file mercy petitions before the President, who would examine it on the basis of merits.

The apex court on today dismissed the curative petition on its verdict that converted Rajiv Gandhi's killers' death sentences into life terms.

The Centre had told the apex court last week that no mercy could be shown to the killers of Rajiv Gandhi as it challenged the Tamil Nadu Government's move to order the release of the convicts.