The letter from the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission highlighted that the request for Santhan’s travel document originated from the Ministry of External Affairs on November 29, 2023, emphasizing the urgency and importance of facilitating his return to Sri Lanka.
In a recent development that has captured the attention of both national and international observers, the Tamil Nadu government disclosed to the Madras High Court that the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai has taken a significant step by issuing a temporary travel document for Santhan, also known as T. Suthenthirarajah. Santhan is notably recognized for his conviction in the assassination case of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. This move marks a pivotal moment in the legal and diplomatic saga surrounding the individuals involved in this high-profile case.
The disclosure was made on February 13, 2024, during a session before a Division Bench comprising Justices R. Suresh Kumar and K. Kumaresh Babu. Additional Public Prosecutor R. Muniyapparaj presented the court with a letter from the Deputy High Commission dated February 2, 2024, which confirmed the issuance of the travel document to Santhan, a Sri Lankan Tamil who had been released from prison the previous year following a Supreme Court order. However, his freedom was short-lived as he was placed in a foreigners’ detention camp in Tiruchi due to the lack of proper travel documents.
The letter from the Deputy High Commission highlighted that the request for Santhan’s travel document originated from the Ministry of External Affairs on November 29, 2023, emphasizing the urgency and importance of facilitating his return to Sri Lanka. The Tamil Nadu government acted swiftly, forwarding the communication to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) in Chennai on February 9, 2024, acknowledging the temporary nature of the travel document, which is valid until August 1, 2024.
This development was shared with Additional Solicitor General (ASG) AR.L. Sundaresan and Santhan’s legal representatives, M. Radhakrishnan and P. Pugalenthi, who have been vocal in their demands for Santhan’s repatriation to Sri Lanka. The ASG, lacking immediate instructions regarding the FRRO’s receipt of the communication, requested additional time to clarify the issuance of the exit permit, which would enable Santhan to visit his ailing 75-year-old mother in Valvetti, Jaffna.
The court granted this request, setting a new deadline of February 29 for the FRRO to provide instructions on the matter. Santhan’s counsel underscored his right as a Sri Lankan national to return to his homeland, pointing out the unnecessary detention at the camp due to the absence of travel documents from the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission.
Santhan’s case is particularly noteworthy as he becomes the first convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case to be granted a temporary passport by the Sri Lankan government. This development contrasts with the situations of other convicts, such as Sriharan alias Murugan, whose passport request is pending, and B. Robert Payas and S. Jeyakumar, who have expressed desires to reside with their families in the Netherlands and Chennai, respectively, due to fears of repatriation to Sri Lanka.
Following their release from over three decades of imprisonment, all four Sri Lankan nationals were detained at the Special Camp for foreigners in Tiruchi, lacking valid travel documentation. The issuance of the temporary travel document to Santhan by the Deputy High Commission, as communicated to the Tamil Nadu government, underscores a collaborative effort between Indian and Sri Lankan authorities to address the complex legal and humanitarian aspects of this case.
The Tamil Nadu government’s prompt action, based on the Deputy High Commission’s request, to expedite Santhan’s deportation process reflects a nuanced approach to international diplomacy and legal proceedings. Santhan, currently receiving medical treatment for a liver disease at the Government Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital in Chennai, awaits the next steps in his journey back to Sri Lanka, highlighting the ongoing interplay between justice, compassion, and international relations in this enduring saga.
