: The first appellate authority in Yerwada Central Prison in Pune on Tuesday rejected an appeal under the Right to Information Act filed by A.G. Perarivalan, the life convict in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking to know the grounds under which Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was released from prison before he completed his five-year jail term.
The appellate authority held that the information sought pertained to a third party and hence could not be disclosed.
Perarivalan’s first application under the RTI Act was rejected by the prison authorities on the same grounds.
Citing a report in The Hindu dated January 7, 2016, Perarivalan, lodged in Vellore central prison, had petitioned the Yerwada Central Prison authorities seeking to know the provisions under which Dutt was released and details of the communication between the Centre and the Maharashtra Government.
Pointing to his incarceration for more than 25 years without bail or parole, he said the information sought pertained to his life and liberty.
After the plea was dismissed, Perarivalan filed an appeal before the first appellate authority.
A communication was sent to him that the appeal would be heard on June 26 and that he could send his authorised representative to the Yerwada Central Prison.
Appeal rejected
On Monday, the appeal was rejected again “to protect third-party interest”, K. Sivakumar, counsel for Perarivalan, said.
Dutt, convicted under the Arms Act in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, walked free on February 27, more than three months before the end of his term, on account of “good conduct”.
The request was turned down on the grounds that the information related to a third party
