The Hindu : National : CBI challenges release of associates of killers of Rajiv Gandhi

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Thursday, Jul 07, 2005

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CBI challenges release of associates of killers of Rajiv Gandhi

Legal Correspondent

They played a key role in the assassination, says monitoring agency

Lingam held secret talks with Sivarasan
He received the killer squad at Kodikkarai

Vasanthan arranged for Bangalore accommodation

NEW DELHI: The Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA) in the Central Bureau of Investigation has moved the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court order directing the release of two Sri Lankan nationals, who were alleged to have played key roles in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

The special leave petition, filed by the CBI Director, sought quashing of the April 25 order and an interim stay of its operation to prevent their release from the special camp for Sri Lankan refugees at Chengalpattu.

The SLP said Lingam and Vasanthan were closely associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and had played an important role in the May 21, 1991 assassinationat Sriperumpudur, near Chennai.

Both were detained under the Foreigners Act for entering India without valid travel documents.

The MDMA was set up to further investigate the role of 21 suspects.

Though Lingam and Vasanthan were not among the21accusedlistedin the Memorandum of Action Taken, they had played a leading role in the assassination, investigation revealed. The MDMA said Lingam had held secret discussions with Sivarasan, the one-eyed jack, a key accused, who committed suicide, and other LTTE cadres. Lingam received the nine-member killer squad, consisting of Sivarasan, Dhanu alias Anbu, Subbha alias Nithya, Neru alias Gokul, Suthandiraja alias Santhan, Shankar alias Koneswaran, Vijayanandan alias Hariyya, Ruban alias Suresh and driver Anna alias Keerthi, on its arrival at Kodikkarai on May 1, 1991. Vasanthan arranged for accommodation for Sivarasan, Subha and Neru in Bangalore after the assassination.

High Court order questioned

The MDMA questioned the High Court order directing the release of the twoon the ground that it took no effective step to complete the probe. It said if they were re leased, it would be difficult to secure their presence.

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