Nalini tried to commit suicide inside prison, says her lawyer

VELLORE: Nalini Sriharan, one of the seven convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, attempted suicide inside the Vellore Special Prison for Women on Monday night, said her lawyer P Pugalenthi. However, both police and

prison department officials

refuted Pugalenthi’s statement, saying that Nalini had only threatened to commit suicide. They said her health was good. Nalini has been in prison for more than 28 years.


Officials said Nalini had been harassing a fellow woman inmate (another life imprisonment convict) in the prison’s high security block, where she was lodged, and treating her as a helper.

Unable to tolerate the harassment, the inmate had recently complained to the prison officials, following which a warder conducted an inquiry with Nalini on Monday. Nalini refused to cooperate with the inquiry and threatened to commit suicide if the officials continued to question her. “The warden and other prison officials immediately stepped out of her cell, ensuring that she did not attempt suicide,” said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity.

However, Nalini's advocate P Pugalenthi said, “There was a verbal duel between Nalini and a fellow life convict on Monday. Around 8.30pm, a warder went to Nalini’s cell and conducted an inquiry. Upset over it, Nalini attempted to strangle herself with a piece of cloth.”

“The prison officials present there immediately intervened and rescued her. We urge the prison department to transfer Nalini from Vellore to Puzhal prison as she faces a security threat there,” said Pugalenthi.

He said they had decided to lodge a complaint with the prison DIG against the warder and others.