Santhan, released convict in Rajiv Gandhi case, admitted to Chennai hospital in critical condition

CHENNAI: Santhan alias Suthenthiraraja, one of the seven released convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has been admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai in a critical condition.

Sanathan has been diagnosed with cryptogenic cirrhosis -- a condition with no apparent underlying reason -- and is now admitted to hepatology (liver) ICU.

"This is a non-alcoholic liver disease. He came to hospital with breathlessness, fluid in the abdomen and swelling in the limbs. His condition is critical," hospital dean Dr E Theranirajan told TOI on Saturday.

Doctors treating him said any further treatment, including organ transplant, could be done only after his condition stabilizes.

Director of medical education Dr J Sangumani said the department was ensuring that the best treatment was given to him.

Originally sentenced to death, Santhan’s term was reduced to imprisonment for life later. Following an order by the Supreme Court dated November 11, 2022, Santhan along with five other convicts -- Nalini Sriharan, Sriharan, Robert Payas, Jayakumar and Ravichandran – were released from different jails, after spending more than 32 years of incarceration.

He has since been lodged in the special camp on the Trichy Central Prison campus along with Murugan, Jayakumar and Robert Payas, as all of them do not have any passports or travel documents with them. While Sriharan has approached Madras high court seeking travel documents so as to seek asylum in the United Kingdom, Santhan filed a similar petition but a different relief. He has requested the court to help him obtain travel papers and be deported to Sri Lanka, where he wants to be with his aged mother.