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TADA court sentences 26 to death in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case

· Poonamallee

A designated TADA court at Poonamallee sentenced all 26 accused on trial to death for the conspiracy to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi.

The trial in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case was held under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act before a designated TADA court at Poonamallee near Madras. The pretrial began in May 1993 and the trial in January 1994; LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, intelligence chief Pottu Amman and Akila were declared absconding. In January 1998 the court sentenced all 26 accused on trial to death. On appeal, the Supreme Court in 1999 upheld the conviction of only seven and released the other 19.

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