The body of Santhan, alias T. Suthenthirarajah, a released convict in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case was flown to Colombo on Friday morning from Chennai.
Santhan, 55, died on Wednesday morning at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGH) in Chennai due to cryptogenic cirrhosis with liver failure.
Originally Santhan, the second accused in the case, was sentenced to death by the trial court, which was upheld by the Supreme Court. Subsequently, the apex court commuted it to life-imprisonment. He along with Nalini, Murugan alias Sriharan and other convicts were released from different jails, after spending more than 32 years of incarceration. He was lodged in the special camp in Tiruchi central jail campus, along with Murugan, Jayakumar and Robert Payas, all Sri Lankan nationals, who did not have passports or travel documents with them.
His health condition worsened and he was admitted to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi and later referred to RGGGH in a critical condition. Subsequently he died in the RGGH.
The Madras High Court had on Thursday directed the Tamil Nadu government to obtain the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission’s clearance to take the mortal remains of Santhan to the island nation.
His body was embalmed and kept in a coffin. On Friday morning, it was sent by a flight to Colombo from Chennai Airport by authorities. His Advocate Pugazhenthi said his body would be handed over to the family in Sri Lanka for performing final rites.
