M Karunanidhi welcomes Supreme Court's order on Rajiv Gandhi assassination case

CHENNAI: Soon after the Supreme Court commuted to life term the death penalty of three convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, DMK President M Karunanidhi today welcomed the verdict and sought their immediate release.

"I am immensely happy to know that they have got the right to live. I wish Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan, whose death sentences have been commuted to life term like the way the sentences of Thiagu, Kaliyaperumal and Nalini - the other accused in the case - were commuted during my government", he said in a statement here.

He said considering the apex court order and the time the three had spent in prison, "the Centre and the state governments should immediately release them from prison".

"If they are released, I would be doubly happy", said the 90-year-old DMK supremo, who has been a strong votary of abolition of the capital punishment.