Supreme Court to hear Rajiv killers plea on Oct 19

The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned hearing on a petition seeking transfer of a case pending before Madras High Court in which the execution of death sentence awarded to three assassins of late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was stayed. It listed the plea for October 19.

An apex court bench of Justice GS Singhvi and Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya directed the listing of the plea on October 19 when it would also hear a petition by Davindra Pal Singh Bhullar, seeking commuting of his death sentence.

Bhullar was convicted in 2001 for his involvement in the 1993 car bomb blast at the Indian Youth Congress headquarters in New Delhi.

However, the plea by Chennai-based lawyer IK Venkat, seeking transfer of the case from the high court to the apex court, was opposed by senior counsel Ram Jethmalani who appeared for the three assassins.

The Tamil Nadu government also opposed the plea for transfer.