Nalini made calls to Britain, Sri Lanka: TN

The Tamil Nadu Government on Friday said calls were made to foreign countries, including Britain and Sri Lanka, from the cellphone recovered from Nalini, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The phone recovered from Nalini in the prison cell during a routine check on April 20 was activated in March 2009 and registered in the name of one Ravi from Katpadi near Vellore, Law Minister Duraimurugan told the state Assembly. He said an analysis of the calls by officials of 'Q branch, which deals with extremist activities in Tamil Nadu, showed that calls and messages were received and sent.

Nalini had thrown the phone into the toilet during the check but officials recovered it. Duraimurgan said eight calls had been made to Britain, one to Sri Lanka, five to Chennai, including to her advocate and to 22 numbers across the state. SMSes were also received and sent, he said, adding the Q branch was investigating the matter.

He said more than 15 SMSes were received and sent, while there were 10 missed calls and eight received calls.

The minister was replying to C Gnanasekeran (Congress), who sought to know the action being taken against Nalini after recovery of her mobile phone, including withdrawal of her 'A' class status.

Duraimurugan said a case has been registered. Tamil Nadu Government had recently rejected her plea for premature release based on the recommendation of the prison advisory board, which Nalini has challenged in the high court.