Only the President can save them now.

Over a hundred kilometres from Madras, the central prison in Vellore is readying for what is probably the last execution of the millennium.

The execution of Nalini, Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan, the four convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

In January 1998, nearly seven years after the former prime minister met a gory end in Sriperumbudur, a special court had sentenced all the 26 accused to death. But on May 11 1998, the Supreme Court acquitted 19, commuted the sentence for three to life and confirmed death for four.

A review petition followed. On October 8, the Supreme Court rejected it, closing another door in the face of the accused.

The only chance for the four, their only hope, is the President. If he rejects their clemency petitions...

Rediff On The NeT brings you an insight into the assassination and its aftermath through a series of interviews. Over three days, starting with P Nedumaran, the Tamil Nadu politician who collected funds for defending the accused, we bring you S Duraisamy, the defence lawyer, and Dr P Chandra Sekharan, the forensic expert who pieced together the evidence.

October 12: 'They are innocent. We'll do anything to free them'

October 13: 'I have to defend the innocent'

October 14: 'The conclusion was a belt-bomb worn by a woman'