The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday told the Madras High Court that the Deputy High Commission for Sri Lanka in Chennai has issued a temporary travel document for T Suthenthiraraja alias Santhan, one of the six freed convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.Such travel documents, the State said, will enable it deport Santhan to Sri Lanka.Santhan, a Sri Lankan national, was released in November 2022 following an order of the Supreme Court. He has stayed on in a detention camp in Tamil Nadu since he does not have a valid passport and requisite travel documents to go back home.Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) R Muniyapparaj told a Bench of Justices R Suresh Kumar and K Kumaresh Babu that the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission had written a letter to the State government on February 2 this year, saying that it had issued the requisite travel documents in favour of Santhan. The travel documents, the APP said, were valid till August 1 this year.The APP further submitted that the State government had forwarded such letter to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) in Chennai on February 9.The Court then granted time till February 29 to the FRRO, represented by Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan, to take instructions on when an exit permit can be issued for Santhan so that he can be sent back to Sri Lanka.
TAGS: Tamil Nadu government Rajiv Gandhi assassination case Convict T Suthenthiraraja alias Santhan Temporary travel document Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission
