CHENNAI, India — A.G. Perarivalan, who spent 31 years in prison in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi before being released by India’s Supreme Court in 2022, has enrolled as a lawyer, returning to the legal system where he once fought for his freedom.
Mr. Perarivalan, 54, was registered as an advocate with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry at the Madras High Court complex this week, according to officials. The enrollment marks a notable turn in a case that for decades drew legal, political and public attention across India.
He was 19 when he was arrested in 1991 after a suicide bombing carried out by the LTTE at an election rally in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, killed Mr. Gandhi and 15 others. Prosecutors accused him of procuring components used in the explosive device, including two nine-volt batteries. Mr. Perarivalan maintained that he had no knowledge of their intended use.
He spent much of his imprisonment on death row before his sentence was commuted, and ultimately served more than three decades in custody. In May 2022, the Supreme Court ordered his release, invoking its constitutional powers under Article 142, citing prolonged delays in deciding his mercy petition and other factors.
Over the years, Mr. Perarivalan repeatedly challenged his conviction in court. His case took a significant turn in 2017, when V. Thiagarajan, a former Central Bureau of Investigation officer involved in the inquiry, submitted an affidavit stating that Mr. Perarivalan’s claim — that he did not know the purpose of the batteries — had not been fully recorded in his confessional statement. The disclosure became part of the legal arguments that eventually led to his release.
His long incarceration also became closely associated with the efforts of his mother, Arputham Ammal, who campaigned for decades for his freedom. She appeared regularly at court hearings, protests and public forums, keeping attention on the case as it moved slowly through the legal system.
During his time in prison, Mr. Perarivalan pursued his education, completing diploma and degree programs in fields including computer applications and literature. After his release, he completed his legal studies, leading to his enrollment as an advocate.
His entry into the legal profession places him within the same system that once prosecuted him and later ordered his release. For supporters, the moment carries symbolic weight, reflecting a transition from a prolonged legal struggle to participation in the administration of justice.
