The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict AG Perarivala while his plea for the remission of his life imprisonment is pending before the President of India.

A Bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and B.R. Gavai directed that Perarivalan be released on bail subject to the satisfaction of conditions posed by the trial court concerned. He shall report to the local police station.

Supreme Court said, “In view of the stand taken by the Union of India that the state government does not have the power to entertain the application especially after the sentence of death imposed on them has been reduced to life, the matter will have to be decided finally”. It further said that “sufficient material has been produced by the applicant to prove his conduct during the long incarceration, acquisition of degrees and ill health.”

"Taking into account the fact that the applicant has spent over 30 years in prison, we are of the considered view that he is entitled to be released on bail, in spite of the vehement opposition by the Centre", the bench said in its order.

As per the SC order, Perarivalan would have to follow the conditions of release and would have to report before the local police officer every month. He also is not allowed to leave his native village, Jholarpetai, around 100 km from Chennai, without reporting to the police.

Perarivalan was 19 years old when he was arrested for his involvement in Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. He was charged with supplying the two nine-volt batteries which were eventually used in the belt bomb that killed the former Prime Minister.