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A.G. Perarivalan (Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Convict) Biography: Age,

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 15, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth30 July 1971

Age51 Years

BirthplaceJolarpet, Tamil Nadu

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather - T. Gnanasekaran; Mother - Arputham Ammal; Sisters - A G Anbumani, A G Arulselvi

A.G. Perarivalan (Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Convict) Biography

A.G. Perarivalan became a central figure in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case after his arrest as a 19-year-old. He spent more than three decades in jail

Early life and background

A.G. Perarivalan was born on 30 July 1971 in Jolarpet, Tamil Nadu. Raised in that town, he is the son of T. Gnanasekaran, a retired government teacher and poet, and Arputham Ammal. He has two sisters, A G Anbumani and A G Arulselvi, the latter serving as an assistant professor at Annamalai University. Perarivalan is unmarried and is known by the nickname "Aviru." Physically, he is described as approximately 180 cm (5'11") tall with black hair and black eyes.

Education

While imprisoned, Perarivalan pursued extensive formal education. He holds diplomas in electronics and communication engineering and in desktop publishing. From the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) he earned a Bachelor of Computer Applications and later a Master of Computer Applications. In 2012 he topped the class 12 examinations among prisoners in Tamil Nadu, and in 2013 he received a gold medal for a desktop publishing diploma course conducted by Tamil Nadu Open University.

Career

Perarivalan’s public life has been defined by his long legal saga rather than a professional career outside prison. Arrested on 11 June 1991 at the age of 19 in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, he was accused of procuring two 9-volt batteries that prosecutors said were used in the explosive device. In January 1998 a TADA court convicted 26 people, including Perarivalan, and sentenced them to death. The Supreme Court’s 1999 judgment confirmed death sentences for four convicts, including Perarivalan.

During decades in custody he continued to engage in study and writing. While on death row he authored a book recounting his perspective and experiences; the work was published in multiple languages in 2011 and was released at a public event. He also taught other inmates and ran a music band within Chennai’s Puzhal Central Prison.

Legal developments and release

After more than two decades on death row, the Supreme Court in February 2014 commuted Perarivalan’s death sentence to life imprisonment. The Tamil Nadu government proposed remission for all seven convicts in the case, but the Supreme Court stayed that order. Subsequent petitions and mercy pleas were filed at different times; some were referred between the state governor and the union government for consideration. In 2017 a former CBI officer filed an affidavit asserting that a portion of Perarivalan’s original confession had not been recorded and arguing that he did not know the purpose of the batteries. The CBI countered that Perarivalan had been deeply involved in the conspiracy. Perarivalan was granted parole on at least two occasions, once in 2017 to be with his ailing father and again in 2019 to attend his sister’s wedding.

In May 2022 the Supreme Court invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution and ordered his release; he was freed after serving over 30 years in custody.

Public profile

Perarivalan’s long confinement and the controversies around portions of the investigation and trial have kept him in the public eye. He has been active inside prison as a tutor to fellow inmates preparing for examinations and as the leader of a prison music group. His educational achievements while incarcerated and his published book contributed to public discussions about his case. Supporters and some legal observers have highlighted affidavits and evidence they say raise questions about aspects of the investigation, while investigative authorities have maintained his involvement.

Latest updates

Following the Supreme Court order of 18 May 2022, Perarivalan was released after more than three decades behind bars. Around his time in custody he survived an assault by another inmate in 2016 that required hospital attention. An educational trust bearing his name was later founded by a former inmate to support underprivileged children.

Perarivalan’s life has been shaped by his legal journey, his academic pursuits in confinement, and the continued public interest in the events and evidence tied to the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
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Recent Work

An Appeal From The Death Row (Rajiv Murder Case — The Truth Speaks)

A book written by Perarivalan recounting his perspective and experiences while on death row; released in 2011 in multiple languages.

2011
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Career Highlights

  1. Arrested in 1991 in connection with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case
  2. Convicted by a TADA court in 1998 and sentenced to death; sentence confirmed for some convicts by the Supreme Court in 1999
  3. Authored a book while on death row; published in 2011
  4. Topped class 12 exams among Tamil Nadu prisoners in 2012 and earned further university degrees from IGNOU while incarcerated
  5. Death sentence commuted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court in February 2014
  6. Released by Supreme Court order on 18 May 2022 after serving over 30 years in custody
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was A.G. Perarivalan (Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Convict) born?

30 July 1971

What is A.G. Perarivalan (Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Convict)’s marital status?

Unmarried