Murder: Godman seeks release like Rajiv assassins, moves SC

One-liner: Self-styled godman Shraddhananda, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife Shakereh Namazi, has moved the SC seeking release from prison like the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Classic case: Alleging that his is a classic case of violation of the right to equality, Shraddhananda said he has already spent over 29 years in jail without getting a single day's parole.

Buried alive: Shraddhananda alias Murli Manohar Mishra had drugged Namazi and buried her alive in the compound of her sprawling bungalow in Bangalore on April 28, 1991.

• Shakereh, grand-daughter of Sir Mirza Ismail, former Diwan of Mysore, had married Sharddhananda in 1986 after divorcing Akbar Khaleeli, a former diplomat

Seeking parity: Seeking parity with the convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Shraddhananda has contended before the apex court that he was sentenced to life imprisonment without remission or parole for a single murder.

• The plea filed through his lawyer said the petitioner is over 80 years old and has been incarcerated in jail since March 1994

Only one criminal case: "The petitioner was involved in only one criminal case and not released for a single day parole, and on other hand, those accused in the assassination of the ex-PM, enjoyed every benefit, including remission/parole," the plea submitted. 

Complaint by daughter: On a complaint lodged by Namazi's daughter, police worked out the case and exhumed her body after which the self-styled godman was arrested.

Wanted to grab wife's property: According to the prosecution, Shraddhananda wanted to grab his wife's property.

Source: PTI