The central government reached the Supreme Court against the release of Rajiv murder convicts

The Central Government has now approached the Supreme Court regarding the release of the accused of the assassination of former Prime Minister of the country, Rajiv Gandhi. Facing criticism from the Congress, the central government on Thursday filed a petition in the Supreme Court for reconsideration of the order of premature release of six convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The Center said that it has been an essential party in the case, but without hearing its arguments, the order to release the killers of the former prime minister was passed. Highlighting the alleged procedural lapse, the government said the convicts seeking premature release did not formally implead the Center as a party, resulting in its non-participation in the case.

On November 11, the Supreme Court had ordered the premature release of six convicts including Nalini Sriharan. The court had given this order on the basis of the Tamil Nadu government's recommendation for remission of punishment for criminals. Apart from Nalini, RP Ravichandran, Santhan, Murugan, Robert Payas and Jayakumar came out of jail after the Supreme Court order.

The Congress said on the stand of the central government that the government has woken up late. Party's organization general secretary KC Venugopal alleged that the government was deliberately indifferent in the matter. He tweeted, 'The decision of the Central Government to file a review petition against the convicts of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination is a case of late awakening. The BJP government has deliberately remained apathetic about the matter.