The investigation was led by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Key details of the plot emerged through a series of discoveries:
: Gandhi’s earlier decision to send the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka in 1987 is cited as the primary catalyst for the LTTE's decision to target him. The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi, then 46 years old and campaigning for a political comeback, arrived at the Sriperumbudur rally at approximately 10:10 pm. As he walked toward the dais, he was greeted by a crowd of well-wishers and party workers. The investigation was led by a Special Investigation
: In 1998, a special court convicted 26 people. Over time, many sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. In November 2022 , the Supreme Court of India ordered the release of the remaining six convicts, including S. Nalini Sriharan and V. Sriharan (alias Murugan), who had served over 30 years. Political and Historical Context As he walked toward the dais, he was
: The SIT confirmed the role of the LTTE, a Sri Lankan Tamil separatist group. The motive was widely believed to be revenge for India's military involvement in the Sri Lankan Civil War and to prevent Gandhi from returning to power.
Among the crowd was (Kalaivani Rajaratnam), a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). As she bent down to touch Gandhi's feet in a traditional gesture of respect, she detonated an RDX explosive-laden belt hidden under her dress. The blast killed Gandhi, the assassin, and 14 others instantly. The Investigation and Conspirators