Stating that the AIADMK government should own up responsibility for the attack, he said it must take steps for the release of Rajiv case convicts and give proper medical treatment for Perarivalan. Perarivalan received six stitches to his head. “We treated Perarivalan inside the prison hospital before taking him to the nearby Government Hospital”, he said.
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Ramadoss said the prison authorities’ version, that Rajesh felt that Arivu was behind his cell change and attacked him, was not convincing.
“I sought parole for him on January 28 this year”.
Perarivalan’s mother Arputhammal was allowed to meet him at the prison hospital. Rajesh was housed in the high-risk prisoners block, where three life convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case – Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan; three in Dhamapuri bus burning case -Nedunchezhian, Ravindran and Muniappan; and one lifer, are lodged.
As per preliminary inquiries, Rajesh Khanna had picked up an argument with Perarivalan and threatened to finish him off, claiming that the latter met the prison superintendent frequently. Following the incident, police booked Rajesh Khanna under Section 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by risky weapons) of the Indian Penal Code.
He also alleged negligence in treating Perarivalan who is ailing from many diseases and sought the release of all the seven prisoners convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Murugan’s wife Nalini’s death sentence was commuted to life in 2000 following a cabinet recommendation and appeal from Rajiv’s wife, Sonia Gandhi.
The Tamil Nadu government had in March this year made a decision to remit the sentences of all the seven convicts.
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DIG prisons, Vellore range, Mohammed Haneefa told TOI that Perarivalan sustained minor injuries in the incident.
