The Assassination Of | Rajiv Gandhi

The assassination occurred during a period of intense sectarian violence and political instability in India.

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 assassination of Rajiv Gandhi

: Rajiv Gandhi’s death left the Nehru-Gandhi family without an immediate political heir, as his widow, Sonia Gandhi, initially refused to enter politics. The assassination occurred during a period of intense

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: : Rajiv Gandhi’s death left the Nehru-Gandhi family

: 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.

: 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