Nalini goes on fast to seek early release from jail

Nalini Sriharan, serving life term for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, began an indefinite fast on Monday in Vellore central prison. She has done so to press her demand for an early release from jail. Nalini’s petition is pending in the Madras High Court for a proper constitution of an advisory board to consider her case for release. She has contended that even though the High Court had directed for the reconstitution of the board last year, the government had not yet done so.

Nalini’s death sentence was commuted to life a few years ago. She has completed more than 18 years in prison. According to prison sources, Nalini refused to take food from Monday morning and threatened to remain on a fast until death, if the government failed to take any action on the high court direction and recommend her release. Prison authorities confirmed that she had commenced an indefinite fast.


The high court had directed for the reconstitution of the advisory board on the ground that it was not constituted properly. But the state government has now amended its prison rules and fixed fresh norms for formation of advisory boards that will look into petitions for premature release of prisoners.

Nalini recently completed her MCA from Indira Gandhi National Open University along with her husband Sriharan alias Murugan. She had told the prison authorities that she wanted to get a job and wished to take care of her daughter after getting out of the prison.

Nalini nurtured hopes of premature release from prison, when Priyanka Gandhi visited her at Vellore prison on March 19 last year. Nalini and those close to her had speculated that the Gandhi family had pardoned her and that it might result in her release, but so far her hopes have been belied.