Tamil Nadu government has sought the Union Home Ministry's opinion on releasing all the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case. In a letter to Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, state chief secretary K. Gnanadesikan said the state government has decided to free them, as they have been in prison for over 24 years. <br/><br/>DMK leader M. Karunanidhi has also appealed to the Centre to take steps for their release. This is for the second time Tamil Nadu government is making efforts to free the convicts. The seven convicts the state government wants to release include the three who were awarded death sentence but later remitted to life imprisonment by the apex court. <br/><br/>Under the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, the state governments have to consult the Centre before releasing life convicts who were tried by the CBI. <br/><br/>The Supreme Court in a verdict has said the term consultation on such issues means concurrence of the Centre. The demand for the release of the convicts has gathered momentum in the state even as Assembly election is due to be held in a few months time.