New Delhi: The Central government on Monday moved the Supreme Court in a bid to stop the release of seven convicts involved in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the petition and has fixed the next date of hearing on February 27.

The apex court had last week stayed the decision of the Tamil Nadu government to release the three convicts in the case after Centre’s plea last week and asked it to maintain status quo.

However, the Centre wants stay on the release of the four remaining convicts as well, as per news reports.

The decision to release the seven convicts was taken by the Tamil Nadu government soon after the Supreme Court commuted the death sentences of three to life imprisonment on the ground of delay in deciding mercy petition.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had even given a deadline of three days to the Centre to respond to the decision else she would go ahead and free the prisoners.

The move on the part of TN government is being seen as politically motivated as the Lok Sabha elections are fast approaching.

Out of the seven convicts, three are Indians while the rest are from Sri Lanka. They have been in prison since Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in a rally near Chennai in 1991.