A.G. Perarivalan, who was released in 2022 after spending over three decades incarcerated in connection with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has formally enrolled as an advocate. On April 27, 2026, he registered with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and is now set to begin his practice at the Madras High Court.
From Arrest to Advocate: A Long Legal Journey
Perarivalan’s journey through the Indian justice system began at just 19 years old when he was arrested in June 1991. This was mere weeks after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in a suicide bombing in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, by the LTTE. The primary allegation against Perarivalan was that he had purchased and supplied a nine-volt battery, which was later used in the explosive device.
In 1998, a TADA court convicted Perarivalan and others for conspiracy to murder, sentencing them to death. The Supreme Court upheld this verdict the following year. However, in 2014, citing an 11-year delay in deciding his mercy petition, the apex court commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment.
His prolonged incarceration finally ended on May 18, 2022, when the Supreme Court invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to order his release, acknowledging his more than 30 years spent in prison.
A New Chapter: Advocating for the Underserved
Following his release, Perarivalan pursued a law degree from a private college in Karnataka, completing it in 2025 and subsequently clearing the All India Bar Examination in the same year. Dressed in a black lawyer’s coat, he stated that his own extensive legal battle was the driving force behind his decision to study law.
Perarivalan, now 54, has expressed his ambition to become a voice for undertrial prisoners and life convicts who often lack access to adequate legal aid and cannot afford representation. He also advocates for significant reforms within the justice system, including the implementation of post-conviction exoneration laws, similar to those found in countries like the United States, Japan, and Australia.
His transition from a teenager taken into custody to a practicing lawyer reflects a unique and complex personal evolution, shaped by years of litigation. As he steps into the legal profession, Perarivalan hopes to contribute to a more equitable and humane justice system, ensuring that individuals without resources are not denied their fundamental right to fair representation.