Madras High Court Directs State To Appoint Nodal Officers To Ensure Mortal Remains Of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Convict Are Flown To Sri Lanka
The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Government to appoint senior IAS and IPS officers to ensure that the mortal remains of T Suthenthiraraj alias Santhan, one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case is taken to Sri Lanka. Santha died on 28th February 2024, at Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai. Santhan had previously approached the court...
The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Government to appoint senior IAS and IPS officers to ensure that the mortal remains of T Suthenthiraraj alias Santhan, one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case is taken to Sri Lanka.
Santha died on 28th February 2024, at Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai. Santhan had previously approached the court seeking permission to travel to Sri Lanka.
When the matter was taken up previously, the Government had informed the court that the Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka had issued a temporary travel document allowing Santhan to go to Sri Lanka.
On Thursday, the bench of Justice R Subramaniam and Justice K Kumaresh Babu wondered why Santhan was not permitted to go to Sri Lanka despite the exit permit. The court also called for Santhan's medical reports to determine his medical conditions.
The State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohammed Jinnah informed the court that Santhan was to be taken to Sri Lanka on 27th February through an air ambulance. However, on that day, he suffered a cardiac arrest and subsequently passed away.
The Additional Solicitor General ASG ARL Sundaresan informed the court that permission from the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission was awaited and was required to get clearance from the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer.
The court then directed the state to expediate the process and asked the state to coordinate with the High Commission and expedite the process.
Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Mad) 90
Case Title: Suthendraraja T @ Santhan v The Secretary and Others
Case No: WP 29254 of 2023