SC asks CBI to file status report in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) to file a status report in the Rajiv Gandhi Murder conspiracy probe. The Apex Court demanded the CBI to file the report within four weeks on the investigation conducted so far relating to the larger conspiracy behind the assassination of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi. 

Accused AG Perarivalan claims probe is partial

The Apex Court was hearing a plea filed by a convict in the case, AG Perarivalan, who claimed that the investigation behind the making of the belt bomb was not being probed properly. Perarivalan is being held guilty of supplying two nine-volt batteries which were allegedly used in the explosive device. The convict had earlier sought a suspension of his sentence till the CBI concluded its investigation, which was declined by the Apex Court. “The main culprits who designed the bomb made of RDX were not nabbed to date. They are scot-free and the investigation is still pending into the vital aspects of the crime itself,” Perarivalan earlier said to the Apex Court.  

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Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at an election rally by a woman suicide bomber identified as 'Dhanu'. She is a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a militant organization from Sri Lanka. 14 people including Dhanu were killed in the blast at Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur town. A state funeral was held for Rajiv Gandhi on 24 May 1991 and was attended by dignitaries from over 60 countries. The Former Prime Minister was cremated on the banks of the river Yamuna. 

The investigation is being carried out by the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency

The Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of Perarivalan to life imprisonment along with two other accused, Santhan and Murugan. The investigation is being carried out by the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA), headed by a CBI official. Officers from IB, RAW AND Revenue Intelligence are also included in the investigation teams. 

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(With inputs from ANI)