Expedite process to send Rajiv assassination convict’s body to Sri Lanka, Madras HC tells TN govt

The bench said in this regard, a senior IAS officer and an IPS officer of the TN government shall be appointed as Nodal officers, who shall undertake the aforesaid task on its behalf. On completion of this task, a compliance report to that effect shall be filed both by the state and central authorities before the court on 4 March 2024, the bench added.

It further directed the state authorities to ensure that the necessary documents to be provided by the hospital authorities shall be done immediately to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO).

The court was hearing Santhan’s earlier plea for a direction to authorities concerned to deport him to Sri Lanka. Post his release in 2022, he was lodged in a special camp at Tiruchirappalli.

Related: Santhan, former convict in Rajiv Gandhi assassination, dies in Chennai

Clinical procedures completed

The state shall also endeavour to get clearance from the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai by taking note of the emergent situation. Accordingly, such a certification or clearance from the High Commission be obtained and produced before the FRRO.

On receipt of these documents, the FRRO was directed to issue necessary orders/clearance immediately enabling the body of the petitioner to be flown to Sri Lanka, the bench added.

In its order, the bench also said when they asked about the current status, the Public Prosecutor submitted that the Magistrate inquiry was completed as Santhan had been in the Tiruchirappalli special camp before he was hospitalized.

The other clinical procedures like postmortem and embalming of the body also have been completed, therefore at any time subject to the necessary permission to be granted by the Lankan High Commission as well as the Central authorities, Santhan’s body can be flown to Sri Lanka, the public prosecutor added.

The bench said in this context, Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan, appearing for the Central authorities has submitted that, to give such a final nod for taking Santhan’s body to Sri Lanka, certain documents were required.

These were — travel documents which have already been issued by the authority concerned on 22 February 2024. The death Certificate to be issued by the hospital, the embalming certificate issued by it, and the permission from the Sri Lankan High Commission/Embassy here allowing Santhan’s body to be flown to Sri Lanka were the others.

The ASG also submitted that collecting these documents may not be a big task and it could be done as soon as possible. Subsequently, the Central authority i.e. FRRO, would give the necessary final nod for taking the body of the petitioner to Sri Lanka.

“The said submissions made by the Public Prosecutor and the Additional Solicitor General are taken on record”, the bench added.

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