Chennai, Apr 4 : After 33 years, three convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, who were released by the Supreme Court, were deported back to Sri Lanka.

All the three–Murugan alias Sriharan, Robert Payas and Jayakumar–were Sri Lankan Nationals.

The trio, who were prematurely freed from prison and then lodged at a special camp in Tiruchi, were deported to Sri Lanka last evening after completing all the formalities, fulfilling their long time wish.

They were escorted to Chennai from Trichy amid tight security and fllew home by a Sri Lankan Airlines flight.
Their advocate, P. Pugazhendi, who facilitated their release from the special camp by submitting the required documents, also accompanied them to Sri Lanka.

Despite Tamil Nadu’s Department of Home and the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Chennai, approving the release of Murugan, Robert Payas, and Jayakumar a few weeks ago, they could not be released immediately as they did not have travel documents.

The Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai issued Emergency Travelling Certificate (ETC), a one-time travel document, on March 25 to all of them, after which they were released from the Trichy camp and sent to Sri Lanka.

The three are among the four Sri Lankan nationals lodged in the special camp since November 12, 2022, after the Supreme Court ordered their release. Santhan alias Suthendiraraja, who was released a few weeks ago from the special camp, died of ill health at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai on February 21.

The sources said Nalini, one of the freed convicts and the wife of Murugan, visited him at the special camp two days ago. The wife of Robert Payas and the family members of Jayakumar also met them at the camp and collected their belongings.

UNI