NCW seeks legal opinion on Nalini’s release

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has sought opinion from legal luminaries to ascertain whether the panel has the mandate to look into an appeal by Nalini Sriharan, one of the seven convicted for the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi who is seeking release on compassionate grounds.

The NCW is, however, yet to receive a formal letter or a memorandum from Nalini.

Nalini and six others have been in jail for the past 26 years.

Rajiv Gandhi was killed when an alleged LTTE activist blew herself up when the Congress leader reached Sriperumbudur village on the outskirts of Chennai to address an election gathering in May 1991.

According to reports, Nalini has sent another appeal to the NCW requesting her release. However, the NCW said it has has not received any communication or request so far.

NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam told HT, “we are yet to receive any communication from Nalini and have been only seeing reports in the media. But even then, I have sought opinion from legal luminaries to ascertain whether the commission has the mandate to look into an issue over which the Supreme Court has already taken a view.”

In her memorandum, Nalini wondered whether she would ever be able to live the life of a normal woman and whether she would be able to meet her daughter, who lives abroad.

CHENNAI: