CHENNAI: With the key convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Murugan alias Sriharan, discontinuing his indefinite fast and ‘jeeva samadhi’ bid, chances of his meeting with his niece Thenmozhi brightened.

On Thursday, after being informed of his decision to drop the fast, a division bench of Justice A Selvam and Justice N Authinathan directed Thenmozhi to file a fresh interview application with Jail authorities, who would take a decision on the request in three days.

Murugan announced his indefinite fast from August 18, to highlight government indifference in considering him for early release from jail. As his condition worsened, Thenmozhi moved the court with a habeas corpus petition, claiming that his life was in danger and that though she wanted to meet him the jail officials denied her access.

In response to court notice, the jail administration submitted that Murugan was consuming only water from the day he started his fast, and that during such protests on jail campus the inmate concerned would not be allowed to meet his visitors. Murugan discontinued his protest on Wednesday, it said.
If a fresh representation is made by Thenmozhi, then prison authorities will consider and pass orders on the application as per the prison manual, public prosecutor of Tamil Nadu told the bench.

Recording the statements, the bench asked Thenmozhi to make a fresh application, and directed prison authorities to pass orders on the application within three days.