CHENNAI: One of the seven released convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Santhan alias Suthenthiraraja, has been admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in a critical condition.
Santhan, 55, who was referred from Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Trichy, has been diagnosed with cryptogenic cirrhosis – a condition with no apparent underlying reason – and is now admitted in the hepatology (liver) ICU.”This is a non-alcoholic liver disease. He came to the hospital with breathlessness, fluid in the abdomen and swelling in the limbs. His condition is critical,” hospital dean Dr E Theranirajan told TOI on Saturday.
Originally sentenced to death, Santhan’s term was reduced to imprisonment for life later following an order by Supreme Court dated Nov 11, 2022,
Santhan, along with five other convicts – Nalini Sriharan, Sriharan, Robert Payas, Jayakumar and Ravichandran – were released from different jails, after spending more than 32 years of incarceration.
He has since been lodged in the special camp on Trichy central jail campus, along with Murugan, Jayakumar and Robert Payas, as all of them do not have passport or travel documents with them.
While Sriharan has approached Madras high court seeking travel documents to seek asylum in the United Kingdom, Santhan filed a similar petition but a different relief.
Santhan requested the court to help him obtain travel papers and be deported to Sri Lanka, where he wants to be with his aged mother.
On Saturday, however, doctors treating him said any further treatment, including organ transplant, could be done only after his condition stabilizes.
Director of medical education, Dr J Sangumani said the medical department was ensuring that the best treatment is given to him.
Santhan, 55, who was referred from Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Trichy, has been diagnosed with cryptogenic cirrhosis – a condition with no apparent underlying reason – and is now admitted in the hepatology (liver) ICU.”This is a non-alcoholic liver disease. He came to the hospital with breathlessness, fluid in the abdomen and swelling in the limbs. His condition is critical,” hospital dean Dr E Theranirajan told TOI on Saturday.
Originally sentenced to death, Santhan’s term was reduced to imprisonment for life later following an order by Supreme Court dated Nov 11, 2022,
Santhan, along with five other convicts – Nalini Sriharan, Sriharan, Robert Payas, Jayakumar and Ravichandran – were released from different jails, after spending more than 32 years of incarceration.
He has since been lodged in the special camp on Trichy central jail campus, along with Murugan, Jayakumar and Robert Payas, as all of them do not have passport or travel documents with them.
While Sriharan has approached Madras high court seeking travel documents to seek asylum in the United Kingdom, Santhan filed a similar petition but a different relief.
Santhan requested the court to help him obtain travel papers and be deported to Sri Lanka, where he wants to be with his aged mother.
On Saturday, however, doctors treating him said any further treatment, including organ transplant, could be done only after his condition stabilizes.
Director of medical education, Dr J Sangumani said the medical department was ensuring that the best treatment is given to him.
