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Ninety Days: The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's Assassins [NOW A MAJOR WEB SERIES]
At 10:20 p.m. on 21 May 1991, a young woman bowed before Rajiv Gandhi at an election rally in Sriperumbudur, 42 km north of Chennai. And then there was an explosion.
This book is the definitive account of one of the most controversial crimes in contemporary India. It unravels the complex plot hatched by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) to ensure that Rajiv Gandhi did not return to power in the 1991 general elections.
Ninety Days provides a blow-by-blow account of how the Special Investigation Team of the CBI cracked the assassination plot, identified the assassins and chased the mastermind, Sivarasan, to his final hideout. The deaths from cyanide consumption of the members of the hit squad left several unanswered questions in their wake, which this book explores.
This book is the definitive account of one of the most controversial crimes in contemporary India. It unravels the complex plot hatched by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) to ensure that Rajiv Gandhi did not return to power in the 1991 general elections.
Ninety Days provides a blow-by-blow account of how the Special Investigation Team of the CBI cracked the assassination plot, identified the assassins and chased the mastermind, Sivarasan, to his final hideout. The deaths from cyanide consumption of the members of the hit squad left several unanswered questions in their wake, which this book explores.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2022
39 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Anirudhya Mitra
3 books10 followersAnirudhya Mitra is a journalist and filmmaker. During a successful stint (1982-93) of news reporting in The Times of India and India Today, he broke several stories, including the Bofors scam, Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, drug wars in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, money laundering by the BCCI bank that led to its closure, corruption in the judiciary, the life and times of Indian-model-turned-spy Pamela Bordes, godman Chandraswamy and others. He moved to writing and creating television drama series with UTV in Mumbai in 1994 and also wrote and produced movies in South East Asia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
April 3, 2025
Rajiv Gandhi was attending a rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, where he was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by a suicide bomber. At least 16 others, in addition to Rajiv Gandhi, were killed in this massacre.
This book is perfect if you're interested in reading about the investigation process of Rajiv Gandhi's murder. It is a gem, and I can't recommend it enough. Also, I applaud Anirudhya Mitra's decision to pen this book and for providing a deeper understanding of the circumstances, possibilities, and coverups.
Read the detailed review here - Books Chharming
This book is perfect if you're interested in reading about the investigation process of Rajiv Gandhi's murder. It is a gem, and I can't recommend it enough. Also, I applaud Anirudhya Mitra's decision to pen this book and for providing a deeper understanding of the circumstances, possibilities, and coverups.
Read the detailed review here - Books Chharming
August 16, 2022
90 𝘿𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙧𝙪𝙙𝙝𝙮𝙖 𝙈𝙞𝙩𝙧𝙖
🔖Do you know how it feels to be threatened !? You bet this is inevitable when you try to pursue the right thing. I guess we all face this situation to a different magnitude everyday though only a handful one chose to do the right thing.
🔖Knowing that the result might be unrecognised. Yet they do it, not for the fame, not for the praise but to satisfy themselves & to do the right thing.
🔖Rajiv Gandhi, A Former Prime minister of india, was assassinated on 21 May 1991 at a place called Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. The assassin was an adolescent girl named Dhanu who was made into a human bomb. This incident shook the whole nation and the investigation moved forward. They were bold claims about being a bigger picture on a global level but who knew it all !? They are just claims afterall.
🔖The book showcases and tells about the hardships of the people who chose to pursue the truth while being hindered on each step of their journey to pursue truth and unveil it. The story of the officers who successfully brought the conspirators to trial. After a period of 30 long years the author decided to put all his work for a greater cause & write this book.
🔖After being accused of yellow journalism, by a fellow crime reporter for writing writing fiction, a leading politician from Tamil Nadu labelled him anti-Tamil, a former Prime Minister calling his editor, continued his work.
🔖To be honest it was one of the few mind-blowing experiences that I experienced as a reader. The author splendidly presented the story which kept me hooked to it. A must read for those who are interested in journalism, world affairs, nation affairs, crime, inspirational figures & real life events.
🔖Do you know how it feels to be threatened !? You bet this is inevitable when you try to pursue the right thing. I guess we all face this situation to a different magnitude everyday though only a handful one chose to do the right thing.
🔖Knowing that the result might be unrecognised. Yet they do it, not for the fame, not for the praise but to satisfy themselves & to do the right thing.
🔖Rajiv Gandhi, A Former Prime minister of india, was assassinated on 21 May 1991 at a place called Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. The assassin was an adolescent girl named Dhanu who was made into a human bomb. This incident shook the whole nation and the investigation moved forward. They were bold claims about being a bigger picture on a global level but who knew it all !? They are just claims afterall.
🔖The book showcases and tells about the hardships of the people who chose to pursue the truth while being hindered on each step of their journey to pursue truth and unveil it. The story of the officers who successfully brought the conspirators to trial. After a period of 30 long years the author decided to put all his work for a greater cause & write this book.
🔖After being accused of yellow journalism, by a fellow crime reporter for writing writing fiction, a leading politician from Tamil Nadu labelled him anti-Tamil, a former Prime Minister calling his editor, continued his work.
🔖To be honest it was one of the few mind-blowing experiences that I experienced as a reader. The author splendidly presented the story which kept me hooked to it. A must read for those who are interested in journalism, world affairs, nation affairs, crime, inspirational figures & real life events.
November 18, 2025
Rating - 5 stars
NPS - 10 (Promoter)
This book is best listened to on audio, and sounds like a true crime podcast.
The content is very good and informative.
NPS - 10 (Promoter)
This book is best listened to on audio, and sounds like a true crime podcast.
The content is very good and informative.
July 21, 2023
I was 6. No knowledge of news, or politics, but it stuck to my memory like a stubborn stain that something happened to someone who was a ruler. There was a bomb blast, there was someone who bent down, and there are arrests, but what was the matter? It took me years to know what it was. The blood-chilling murder of Rajiv Gandhi. The massacre shook the nation and the incident changed the political scenario. 90 days by Anirudhya Mitra is an account of the detailed anecdotes of everything that transpired during the investigation of the Rajiv Gandhi Massacre.
Anirudhya was a newbie in India Today and was assigned the task of reporting the investigation of the Rajiv Gandhi Massacre. Despite being a newbie in India Today, he is no rookie because he has taken out his A game in the daily news but when it comes to a weekly or fortnightly, by the time his findings come to light the acceptability of the news would have worn out as it is old news. But nothing could discourage him as he knocks on all doors and leaves no stone unturned. So he uses his sources in the Special Investigation Team (SIT), CBI, and Intelligence Bureau(IB).
The characters
Though real, the characters in the book are introduced in a systematic fashion so that the readers could come back and refer anytime. Since there are too many people among the assassins and the investigation team, this list comes in handy though the author has streamlined the plot in such a way that the readers are in the loop.
The investigation
It is an awe-inspiring account of how the investigators patiently tracked the culprits, nabbed them, and made them confess the crime. At the same time, they used these culprits to nab the big fish. How Sivarasan has stayed elusive and fooled the investigators but they never lost hope and continued their attempts. It is an inspiration to everyone who is ready to give up at the drop of a hat.
The sensationalized journalism
Anirudhya's first article was blamed as sensationalized journalism and it is endearing to see as the plot unfolds, whatever he has written comes true. The book has indeed an element of sensationalism. Nonetheless, this one-of-a-kind book that talks about the reality of nabbing the culprits and the larger picture of conspiracy is a brave attempt. For the current generation who has heard of the incident and are not privy of what exactly transpired, the book is a holy grail of Indian history.
Anirudhya was a newbie in India Today and was assigned the task of reporting the investigation of the Rajiv Gandhi Massacre. Despite being a newbie in India Today, he is no rookie because he has taken out his A game in the daily news but when it comes to a weekly or fortnightly, by the time his findings come to light the acceptability of the news would have worn out as it is old news. But nothing could discourage him as he knocks on all doors and leaves no stone unturned. So he uses his sources in the Special Investigation Team (SIT), CBI, and Intelligence Bureau(IB).
The characters
Though real, the characters in the book are introduced in a systematic fashion so that the readers could come back and refer anytime. Since there are too many people among the assassins and the investigation team, this list comes in handy though the author has streamlined the plot in such a way that the readers are in the loop.
The investigation
It is an awe-inspiring account of how the investigators patiently tracked the culprits, nabbed them, and made them confess the crime. At the same time, they used these culprits to nab the big fish. How Sivarasan has stayed elusive and fooled the investigators but they never lost hope and continued their attempts. It is an inspiration to everyone who is ready to give up at the drop of a hat.
The sensationalized journalism
Anirudhya's first article was blamed as sensationalized journalism and it is endearing to see as the plot unfolds, whatever he has written comes true. The book has indeed an element of sensationalism. Nonetheless, this one-of-a-kind book that talks about the reality of nabbing the culprits and the larger picture of conspiracy is a brave attempt. For the current generation who has heard of the incident and are not privy of what exactly transpired, the book is a holy grail of Indian history.
August 5, 2025
Fantastic book .. I enjoyed reading this thriller. So many unanswered questions in the end still. But author gave his best in highlighting those at every point.
November 24, 2022
The former prime minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated 31 years ago in Sriperumbudur during a political rally. This is a known fact to most likely all of us, it’s a piece of India’s modern history but beyond that one sentence the knowledge about the incident is scarce especially to the Gen Z and Millennials born much after the event. This book explores the investigation and conspiracy behind the assassination, what went behind the scenes while trying to catch one of the most-wanted fugitives of that time.
While reading this book, I definitely felt like I’m watching an investigative thriller movie or a documentary for that matter. This books throws light on so many aspects of that time, and gives a clear picture of what actually went down. For me, who wasn’t at all aware of even how the assassination happened this was an extremely intriguing story. I definitely recommend that you should read it, it was extremely informative and thrilling to read this book.
I don’t read non-fiction a lot so this was definitely out of my comfort zone but the way it is written, it was quite easy to read and I didn’t have much problem!
While reading this book, I definitely felt like I’m watching an investigative thriller movie or a documentary for that matter. This books throws light on so many aspects of that time, and gives a clear picture of what actually went down. For me, who wasn’t at all aware of even how the assassination happened this was an extremely intriguing story. I definitely recommend that you should read it, it was extremely informative and thrilling to read this book.
I don’t read non-fiction a lot so this was definitely out of my comfort zone but the way it is written, it was quite easy to read and I didn’t have much problem!
July 22, 2022
"The book is a page turner even though it has been published thirty years after the dastardly event."
GC Shekhar in The Hindu BL 21st July
GC Shekhar in The Hindu BL 21st July
August 8, 2022
If you are of a certain vintage you will have memories of this. Pretty vivid ones, too. The nipping in the bud of a gathering resurgence. The shattering disbelief. I, for one, remember being in utter shock the morning after the dastardly assassination, watching the black and white TV images of the hope of the nation lying in the grotesqueness of death wrought by a human bomb. 'Human bomb'.. a term brought home to us probably for the first time.
Anirudhya Mitra's recounting of the investigation that led to the arrest of the perpetrators, conspirator and agents--some of them to their deaths--is taut, detailed, and pretty much comprehensive. This is not a novel, and was never meant to be one, I am sure, reading much like an investigation report that it actually is. An investigation report in a far readable form, to be sure.
As the reporter charged with going deeper into the mega-story of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, after Shekhar Gupta reporting on the assassination itself and the immediate aftermath, Anirudhya Mitra, then a fairly new joinee at the august India Today newsmagazine, had a challenge on his hands. A volatile situation, fraught with political minefields, investigative agencies overlaps, political pressure, and the very real danger of assassins on the loose in the city of then Madras, among others, meant he was running helter and skelter, covering ground, gathering input, meshing them together for a viable news report to be filed.
There are a myriad threads, sources, conflicts, information flows that he deals with, filing intermediate reports for the editors to decide on printing, while going deeper into the larger conspiracy to taking out the likely winner of the great Indian national elections to serve vested interests. Anirudhya marshals his sources and material well, knitting into a comprehensive, at times puzzling, narrative that will take the reader through a range of emotions.
How committed the cadres of the LTTE were... is something most readers of the said vintage might recall well. That they were daring, devious, and determined goes without saying. They managed to find the people they needed with blandishments and threats, tickling Tamil nationalism where they could get away with on the mainland. While the mastermind on the ground, Sivarasan (among other aliases he revelled in) consistently keeping a step or two ahead of the multi-agency SIT, the latter's hard work succeeded in ensnaring suspect after suspect. Many got away, too--the getting away of one from the SIT HQ, Malligai, being especially awkward with the escapee found hanging dead in a park only a short distance away from the HQ. But the chase was relentless, the net drawing tighter slowly but surely. The reader can sense the net tightening.
It brings home time and again how such massive investigations often turn on simple clues and sheer hard work. And luck. You know the story from the past, at least enough to know the final outcomes. But reading the book will not just refresh those memories, you will also find out nuggets of new information, a sense of the wider conspiracy that must have been running in the background, and your speculations will never stop. Why was Yasser Arafat's warning to Rajiv personally ignored? Why wasn't the possibility of other 'foreign hands' not investigated? How did Rajiv's aircraft miraculously get repaired within a short time making his fatal flight to Madras possible? How did the assassins gain VIP enclosure passes enabling direct access to Rajiv? Was the LTTE just the tip of a very willing spear? Funded and managed out of sight by others? You will wonder.
This is a book that looks back at one the most significant assassinations in modern India. One that changed a course that it might have otherwise taken. And, to be sure, there are questions still that need answering. And people held accountable.
Strongly recommended.
Anirudhya Mitra's recounting of the investigation that led to the arrest of the perpetrators, conspirator and agents--some of them to their deaths--is taut, detailed, and pretty much comprehensive. This is not a novel, and was never meant to be one, I am sure, reading much like an investigation report that it actually is. An investigation report in a far readable form, to be sure.
As the reporter charged with going deeper into the mega-story of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, after Shekhar Gupta reporting on the assassination itself and the immediate aftermath, Anirudhya Mitra, then a fairly new joinee at the august India Today newsmagazine, had a challenge on his hands. A volatile situation, fraught with political minefields, investigative agencies overlaps, political pressure, and the very real danger of assassins on the loose in the city of then Madras, among others, meant he was running helter and skelter, covering ground, gathering input, meshing them together for a viable news report to be filed.
There are a myriad threads, sources, conflicts, information flows that he deals with, filing intermediate reports for the editors to decide on printing, while going deeper into the larger conspiracy to taking out the likely winner of the great Indian national elections to serve vested interests. Anirudhya marshals his sources and material well, knitting into a comprehensive, at times puzzling, narrative that will take the reader through a range of emotions.
How committed the cadres of the LTTE were... is something most readers of the said vintage might recall well. That they were daring, devious, and determined goes without saying. They managed to find the people they needed with blandishments and threats, tickling Tamil nationalism where they could get away with on the mainland. While the mastermind on the ground, Sivarasan (among other aliases he revelled in) consistently keeping a step or two ahead of the multi-agency SIT, the latter's hard work succeeded in ensnaring suspect after suspect. Many got away, too--the getting away of one from the SIT HQ, Malligai, being especially awkward with the escapee found hanging dead in a park only a short distance away from the HQ. But the chase was relentless, the net drawing tighter slowly but surely. The reader can sense the net tightening.
It brings home time and again how such massive investigations often turn on simple clues and sheer hard work. And luck. You know the story from the past, at least enough to know the final outcomes. But reading the book will not just refresh those memories, you will also find out nuggets of new information, a sense of the wider conspiracy that must have been running in the background, and your speculations will never stop. Why was Yasser Arafat's warning to Rajiv personally ignored? Why wasn't the possibility of other 'foreign hands' not investigated? How did Rajiv's aircraft miraculously get repaired within a short time making his fatal flight to Madras possible? How did the assassins gain VIP enclosure passes enabling direct access to Rajiv? Was the LTTE just the tip of a very willing spear? Funded and managed out of sight by others? You will wonder.
This is a book that looks back at one the most significant assassinations in modern India. One that changed a course that it might have otherwise taken. And, to be sure, there are questions still that need answering. And people held accountable.
Strongly recommended.
October 29, 2022
My mind is filled with questions and at the same time it's still processing what it just read.
"On May 21, 1991 Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a human bomb in an ongoing general election rally in Chennai." This isn't really the book. But the fact that how this happened is what resides within this book.
The book talks about the author's finding from back in time while he was working with India Today and when the incident took place. I'm no reader of journalism, but this book made me curious to go to the Internet and look for things and terms for all of it to make a little more sense in my mind.
You should read this book, why?
1. It has an account of the author's dot-to-dot connection of the events that were unraveling themselves back in 1991-92.
2. It talks about the journalism and the efforts that get in while collecting facts/proofs/evidences.
3. While social media has made things way more accessible today, it talks about the 'exclusive' in a pile of ordinary snippets.
4. This book uncovers layers of investigation and how all the parties that were involved to find the one person/group to put a name on.
5. As a reader you will always be on your toes, with the mind gripping volatile situation, political pressure, multiple investigation agencies being involved. And to add to it, it was Anirudhya's commitment to put the story forth, with numerous thoughts, inputs and a lot of information flowing in, his decision making and the prompt thinking makes his way to the major headlines.
6. The narration of the book will make you feel ample of emotions.
It took me only a chapter to get hooked. There are multiple characters in play, multiple agencies at the discourse, but with Anirudhya's way of structuring the book, you can actually have a certain idea of who is who, as in the starting he has put in a brief of the same. So for somebody like me who isn't very aware of the agencies and people in command, I really appreciated it.
You will be amused to know the one group that the R&AW thought would not be the culprit at the start, ends up being the actual conspirator and every security agency involved with SIT, be it R&AW, CBI, NSG or the local police was at the end on a mission to find the one man responsible from the group, the mastermind behind this outrageous attack - Sivarsan.
And this book is as much a story of Sivarasan & how he got caught, as much it is of Rajiv Gandhi & how he was assasinated.
"On May 21, 1991 Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a human bomb in an ongoing general election rally in Chennai." This isn't really the book. But the fact that how this happened is what resides within this book.
The book talks about the author's finding from back in time while he was working with India Today and when the incident took place. I'm no reader of journalism, but this book made me curious to go to the Internet and look for things and terms for all of it to make a little more sense in my mind.
You should read this book, why?
1. It has an account of the author's dot-to-dot connection of the events that were unraveling themselves back in 1991-92.
2. It talks about the journalism and the efforts that get in while collecting facts/proofs/evidences.
3. While social media has made things way more accessible today, it talks about the 'exclusive' in a pile of ordinary snippets.
4. This book uncovers layers of investigation and how all the parties that were involved to find the one person/group to put a name on.
5. As a reader you will always be on your toes, with the mind gripping volatile situation, political pressure, multiple investigation agencies being involved. And to add to it, it was Anirudhya's commitment to put the story forth, with numerous thoughts, inputs and a lot of information flowing in, his decision making and the prompt thinking makes his way to the major headlines.
6. The narration of the book will make you feel ample of emotions.
It took me only a chapter to get hooked. There are multiple characters in play, multiple agencies at the discourse, but with Anirudhya's way of structuring the book, you can actually have a certain idea of who is who, as in the starting he has put in a brief of the same. So for somebody like me who isn't very aware of the agencies and people in command, I really appreciated it.
You will be amused to know the one group that the R&AW thought would not be the culprit at the start, ends up being the actual conspirator and every security agency involved with SIT, be it R&AW, CBI, NSG or the local police was at the end on a mission to find the one man responsible from the group, the mastermind behind this outrageous attack - Sivarsan.
And this book is as much a story of Sivarasan & how he got caught, as much it is of Rajiv Gandhi & how he was assasinated.
September 10, 2022
"A Dynamite that never had a resolution"
It gives me immense pleasure to share my review on Anirudhya Mitra's unveiling narrative - 90 Days. It has been published by Harper Collins.
I am grateful to Mr. Anirudhya Mitra for allowing me to review the painstaking work. I happened to be extremely disturbed as i was wandering through the facts and identifying myself back in the 90s.
The more i got through the facts, evidence and portrayal of a master plan, likely, stretching myself in a cobweb. Well ! I have read hundreds of narratives so far but 90 Days goes beyond the human predicaments. It is definitely not a fictional case of a murder mystery, but an actual stressful national murder. From the hardships of a journalist to ordinary people, the factual narrative brings in information in the most disciplined and structured way.
It took me a few days to adapt my mind to the actual murder mystery. It's dreadful to see how a political catastrophe could bring ends to ordinary lives. Likely, the "chain of being" cannot be segregated from "barbarism".
Anyhow, I tried to re-concentrate on the facts after a gap of a day. Not amusing but surprising how journalists are misled as 'purchasers of events, drama, publicity and chaos". Not only is the whole plot-plan of murdering Mr. Rajiv Gandhi but the painstaking journey of Mr. Mitra whose nightmares cannot be deciphered.
Well! I would request you all to read the investigative book that is loaded with facts, purpose, reasoning to unearth the hidden truths behind assassination on 21st May, 1991.
India not only lost Former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi but brought citizens with a gruesome reality of the political agenda of antagonists.
Rest, i leave it upon all the readers (National and International) to please read this well-planned, well-narrated and trailblazing investigation.
As a reader, i get to finish the book within a few days and identify with the political chaos in the then time to the modern times. But the work is a hardwork of all the eminent officials, journalists, and supporters of Mr. Mitra who happened to bring this reality after 30 long years.
Happy reading!
It gives me immense pleasure to share my review on Anirudhya Mitra's unveiling narrative - 90 Days. It has been published by Harper Collins.
I am grateful to Mr. Anirudhya Mitra for allowing me to review the painstaking work. I happened to be extremely disturbed as i was wandering through the facts and identifying myself back in the 90s.
The more i got through the facts, evidence and portrayal of a master plan, likely, stretching myself in a cobweb. Well ! I have read hundreds of narratives so far but 90 Days goes beyond the human predicaments. It is definitely not a fictional case of a murder mystery, but an actual stressful national murder. From the hardships of a journalist to ordinary people, the factual narrative brings in information in the most disciplined and structured way.
It took me a few days to adapt my mind to the actual murder mystery. It's dreadful to see how a political catastrophe could bring ends to ordinary lives. Likely, the "chain of being" cannot be segregated from "barbarism".
Anyhow, I tried to re-concentrate on the facts after a gap of a day. Not amusing but surprising how journalists are misled as 'purchasers of events, drama, publicity and chaos". Not only is the whole plot-plan of murdering Mr. Rajiv Gandhi but the painstaking journey of Mr. Mitra whose nightmares cannot be deciphered.
Well! I would request you all to read the investigative book that is loaded with facts, purpose, reasoning to unearth the hidden truths behind assassination on 21st May, 1991.
India not only lost Former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi but brought citizens with a gruesome reality of the political agenda of antagonists.
Rest, i leave it upon all the readers (National and International) to please read this well-planned, well-narrated and trailblazing investigation.
As a reader, i get to finish the book within a few days and identify with the political chaos in the then time to the modern times. But the work is a hardwork of all the eminent officials, journalists, and supporters of Mr. Mitra who happened to bring this reality after 30 long years.
Happy reading!
May 13, 2023
Rajiv Gandhi, India's former Prime Minister was assassinated on May 21,1991 by a woman suicide bomber.
Book - 90 days: The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's Assassins
Author- @anirudhya.mitra
Genre - True Crime
Published by @harpercollinsin
Pages 243
'𝟵𝟬 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀' 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗷𝗶𝘃 𝗚𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗵𝗶'𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀.
On May 21 around 10pm, Rajiv Gandhi had reached an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. When he reached there, a young woman bowed before him and detonated an explosive hidden under her dress.
__
⭐Author Anirudhya Mitra was a journalist at that time covering this biggest crime for the India Today Magazine.
This book explores how the conspiracy was hatched by LTTE, the ways of members of LTTE- their dedication, cover ups, hideouts;
how the SIT cracked the assassination plot, identified the assassins and chased the mastermind. This book also shows the lies and deceptions of the intelligence agencies, the sympathy that some senior police officers from TN had for LTTE, the lack of co-operation among the agencies at the last stage which had botched up the operation.
This was indeed a mind blowing read. It will hold your attention till the last page. The language is simple and it is fast paced throughout. With shocking revelations at every page the author keeps the readers engaged. He writes in such way that you will feel the frustration, disappointment , hardships of the officers working on the case...which also shows that how hard it can get sometimes when your own people restrict you(read politics). The author also highlights a number of external factors that hampered the case. There are a lot of characters in the book and hence the twist & turns in the story will keep you up all night. A list of characters is given in the starting so as to avoid confusion. A history of LTTE is also given.
I really loved reading how the officers chased the master mind. I was also thinking how police can be so irresponsible at times.... and how such activities happen right under their nose and they dont even know.
If you love reading true crime/ crime thrillers dont miss this out.
Book - 90 days: The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's Assassins
Author- @anirudhya.mitra
Genre - True Crime
Published by @harpercollinsin
Pages 243
'𝟵𝟬 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀' 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗷𝗶𝘃 𝗚𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗵𝗶'𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀.
On May 21 around 10pm, Rajiv Gandhi had reached an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. When he reached there, a young woman bowed before him and detonated an explosive hidden under her dress.
__
⭐Author Anirudhya Mitra was a journalist at that time covering this biggest crime for the India Today Magazine.
This book explores how the conspiracy was hatched by LTTE, the ways of members of LTTE- their dedication, cover ups, hideouts;
how the SIT cracked the assassination plot, identified the assassins and chased the mastermind. This book also shows the lies and deceptions of the intelligence agencies, the sympathy that some senior police officers from TN had for LTTE, the lack of co-operation among the agencies at the last stage which had botched up the operation.
This was indeed a mind blowing read. It will hold your attention till the last page. The language is simple and it is fast paced throughout. With shocking revelations at every page the author keeps the readers engaged. He writes in such way that you will feel the frustration, disappointment , hardships of the officers working on the case...which also shows that how hard it can get sometimes when your own people restrict you(read politics). The author also highlights a number of external factors that hampered the case. There are a lot of characters in the book and hence the twist & turns in the story will keep you up all night. A list of characters is given in the starting so as to avoid confusion. A history of LTTE is also given.
I really loved reading how the officers chased the master mind. I was also thinking how police can be so irresponsible at times.... and how such activities happen right under their nose and they dont even know.
If you love reading true crime/ crime thrillers dont miss this out.
March 3, 2023
This Book has been quite a surprise for me. I haven't explored this genre much and this was a page turner with so much information that it will keep you engaged. This book is the true Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's Assassins. On 21st May, 1991 around 10.30pm, during the rally a young woman bowed to him and then there was an explosion and Rajiv Gandhi , India's prime minister was dead. This was the most shocking news for India. His assassination was the proper plan of the LTTE to make sure that he will not return to power in the upcoming general elections.
The author, a journalist worked with India Today during the time of the event. He had worked closely with special CBI and through the book gives us each and every investigation detail connected to India's most controversial case. With crisp narration and engaging writing style, the author makes us understand how the special investigation team of CBI decodes the killing plan and chases the mastermind Sivarasan. The author himself has faced the obstacles during his journey where people called him anti-Tamil and accused him of yellow journalism but still he wrote this Book and that's why we are able to know about assassination.
Through this book, we came to know the amount of effort journalists put to solve this type of critical case and the hardwork they have to do to find the truth.The author shares his experiences of investigation, starting from the newsroom discussion to how he gathered the information, his manner of working on this case while generating leads and information but most importantly whether to believe on those resources or not.
The Book is informative yet gave me goosebumps while reading. I was shocked to know the harsh realities of the activities and the way planning and execution of the assassination was done. The 'HumanBomb' and the girl who was ready to wear that, made me think how much hatred they have been carrying. Shocking!
I would surely recommend this one to everyone.
The author, a journalist worked with India Today during the time of the event. He had worked closely with special CBI and through the book gives us each and every investigation detail connected to India's most controversial case. With crisp narration and engaging writing style, the author makes us understand how the special investigation team of CBI decodes the killing plan and chases the mastermind Sivarasan. The author himself has faced the obstacles during his journey where people called him anti-Tamil and accused him of yellow journalism but still he wrote this Book and that's why we are able to know about assassination.
Through this book, we came to know the amount of effort journalists put to solve this type of critical case and the hardwork they have to do to find the truth.The author shares his experiences of investigation, starting from the newsroom discussion to how he gathered the information, his manner of working on this case while generating leads and information but most importantly whether to believe on those resources or not.
The Book is informative yet gave me goosebumps while reading. I was shocked to know the harsh realities of the activities and the way planning and execution of the assassination was done. The 'HumanBomb' and the girl who was ready to wear that, made me think how much hatred they have been carrying. Shocking!
I would surely recommend this one to everyone.
November 29, 2022
I have been reading this book for the last few days and I finished it today. If I have to describe this book in one line I would say, it's a page-turner that will give you goosebumps.
Ninety days provides a blow-by-blow account of how the CBI investigation of one of the most controversial crimes. A young woman bowed before Rajiv Gandhi at an election rally and then there was an explosion. Anirudhya Mitra unravels the complex plot hatched by the LTTE to ensure that Rajiv Gandhi did not return to power in the 1991 general elections.
With a Crisp descriptive narrative and gripping writing style, I loved the way he describes the whole investigation and unveils the mystery.
Right from the start Anirudhya captures the readers attention. The story gets crucial and we discover many unknown facts. From news gatherings to writing perfect copies, Anirudhya shares about investigating this controversial case and how situations were when the news came.
It tells about the efforts journalists made to discover the truth, tells us about conspiracy and the involvement of many parties to solve the mystery of the assassination.
It's truly a page-turner with the way investigation shapes up. Mindblowing! It will take a little time to process with the events happening as it's a bit heavy read with too much information. There are many names here to remember and the situations to understand.
With this book, you will know the important role journalists play when it comes to such stories and the way they work hard to bring out the truth.
Here Anirudhya shares his journey, the way he worked on the case, finding leads, gathering information, about the hustle during that time and the information he should trust.
If you enjoy reading crime books, this is the one you must not skip. It's just like a rollercoaster ride discovering the truth.
June 7, 2024
90 DAYS : The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi’s Assassins by Anirudhya Mishra
On 21 May 1991 India’s former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at a place called Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. The assassination was carried out by a female suicide bomber of the terrorist organisation - Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The LTTE was an extremely deadly terrorist outfit operating out of Jaffna in Sri Lanka 🇱🇰.
Their leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran was sadistically ruthless and had caused much havoc in Sri Lanka through suicide bombings and other attacks taking hundreds of civilian lives. The LTTE operatives were heavily devoted to their cause and would bite cyanide pills rather than being captured alive. Until its complete annihilation(with massive human rights violations) by the Sri Lankan Army in 2009, LTTE claimed the lives of several political leaders including the president of Sri Lanka.
This had been LTTE’s first major operation on foreign soil and generated widespread media attention. A massive manhunt ensued. As the assassins and their accomplices were captured one by one a complex web of the terrorist organisation was found to operating in Tamil Nadu and many other parts of the country.
This is the story of the investigation that shocked the nation. An edge of the seat thriller this book delves deep into the events right after the assassination and the preceding months. The author was the India Today correspondent who was closely involved with the Special Investigation Team in this investigation.
A highly recommended read!
Follow @read.to.transcend for more.
On 21 May 1991 India’s former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at a place called Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. The assassination was carried out by a female suicide bomber of the terrorist organisation - Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The LTTE was an extremely deadly terrorist outfit operating out of Jaffna in Sri Lanka 🇱🇰.
Their leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran was sadistically ruthless and had caused much havoc in Sri Lanka through suicide bombings and other attacks taking hundreds of civilian lives. The LTTE operatives were heavily devoted to their cause and would bite cyanide pills rather than being captured alive. Until its complete annihilation(with massive human rights violations) by the Sri Lankan Army in 2009, LTTE claimed the lives of several political leaders including the president of Sri Lanka.
This had been LTTE’s first major operation on foreign soil and generated widespread media attention. A massive manhunt ensued. As the assassins and their accomplices were captured one by one a complex web of the terrorist organisation was found to operating in Tamil Nadu and many other parts of the country.
This is the story of the investigation that shocked the nation. An edge of the seat thriller this book delves deep into the events right after the assassination and the preceding months. The author was the India Today correspondent who was closely involved with the Special Investigation Team in this investigation.
A highly recommended read!
Follow @read.to.transcend for more.
August 26, 2022
📍 This book is about the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India.
📍 The author has covered the story very well with a great point of view. The introduction, the plot, the narration, everything is so good about this book. The language used is lucid, easy enough to understand for everyone.
📍 I didn't have any knowledge on the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, so this book kinda gave me everything on it. It was hard to put down the book and do something else.
📍 The hard work of the SIT team is shown pretty well in the book. How they caught the assassins one by one, how they handled the pressure of everyone around, as this was a big case. How the assassins organized the crime and how they plotted it, how they tried dry runs for the same. It's all in the book.
📍 The mastermind of the crime was not so easy to find, but the SIT team did find him and all the others who helped him in the crime. However the mastermind was smart enough to fool them so many times.
📍 While reading the last few pages I could felt the pain of those who wanted to catch the mastermind Sivrasan alive. But all the other incharge, heads, police department didn't approve their plan at the time.
📍 This is a fast pace read, if you're looking for a true crime, this one is for you. You'd get to see how the agencies work in such cases.
📍 The author has covered the story very well with a great point of view. The introduction, the plot, the narration, everything is so good about this book. The language used is lucid, easy enough to understand for everyone.
📍 I didn't have any knowledge on the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, so this book kinda gave me everything on it. It was hard to put down the book and do something else.
📍 The hard work of the SIT team is shown pretty well in the book. How they caught the assassins one by one, how they handled the pressure of everyone around, as this was a big case. How the assassins organized the crime and how they plotted it, how they tried dry runs for the same. It's all in the book.
📍 The mastermind of the crime was not so easy to find, but the SIT team did find him and all the others who helped him in the crime. However the mastermind was smart enough to fool them so many times.
📍 While reading the last few pages I could felt the pain of those who wanted to catch the mastermind Sivrasan alive. But all the other incharge, heads, police department didn't approve their plan at the time.
📍 This is a fast pace read, if you're looking for a true crime, this one is for you. You'd get to see how the agencies work in such cases.
Read
August 31, 2022Reading this book feels like watching a mind-blowing documentary, This book is about the true story of the hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's Assassins.
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on 21st May 1991 at an election rally in Sriperumbudur, 42 km north of Chennai
If you are someone like me (probably Gen-Z) you would have no or very little knowledge about this incident. When I picked this book, which is completely out of my comfort zone, I did not know what to expect from this book but with each turning page I got engrossed, later I watched the clipping on google where an adolescent girl, who was at the close proximity with the former prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, was made into a human bomb and after a while, she got herself exploded and killed the prime minister of the country along with herself and few others. That clip gave me all the shivers.
The detailing of this book is so apt plus the struggle that he went through to unravel the truth is something commendable. Loved it and recommended it to everyone out there. Also, 10/10 points for the author who has covered this investigation so well as well as penned it in lucid language that anyone can pick this book up.
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on 21st May 1991 at an election rally in Sriperumbudur, 42 km north of Chennai
If you are someone like me (probably Gen-Z) you would have no or very little knowledge about this incident. When I picked this book, which is completely out of my comfort zone, I did not know what to expect from this book but with each turning page I got engrossed, later I watched the clipping on google where an adolescent girl, who was at the close proximity with the former prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, was made into a human bomb and after a while, she got herself exploded and killed the prime minister of the country along with herself and few others. That clip gave me all the shivers.
The detailing of this book is so apt plus the struggle that he went through to unravel the truth is something commendable. Loved it and recommended it to everyone out there. Also, 10/10 points for the author who has covered this investigation so well as well as penned it in lucid language that anyone can pick this book up.
September 5, 2022
A tragic incident which shook the entire nation, which should have been a part of our syllabus while growing up, regardless of which direction our political ideologies are inclined.
Yes, the assassination of Late Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India.
Although our parents'generation would have had a lot of memories of this incident, but me as in my generation barely recollect it being the centre point of discussion.
Coming back to the book I must say the author has sequentially dissected the complex cover up and the investigation which was followed within our intelligence agencies.
I won't disclose much about the plot because I would say it's really imperative for all of our generation to read this book page by page because this was really a political thriller in real time.
This investigation witnessed a lot of division on the basis of approach towards this case as well as the political and media pressure on the investigating officers which might still haunt them to present day!
Overall this book deserves your undivided attention and a little bit of patience for novices in the political thriller genre and readers new to Indian politics, but it has been totally worth it.
Yes, the assassination of Late Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India.
Although our parents'generation would have had a lot of memories of this incident, but me as in my generation barely recollect it being the centre point of discussion.
Coming back to the book I must say the author has sequentially dissected the complex cover up and the investigation which was followed within our intelligence agencies.
I won't disclose much about the plot because I would say it's really imperative for all of our generation to read this book page by page because this was really a political thriller in real time.
This investigation witnessed a lot of division on the basis of approach towards this case as well as the political and media pressure on the investigating officers which might still haunt them to present day!
Overall this book deserves your undivided attention and a little bit of patience for novices in the political thriller genre and readers new to Indian politics, but it has been totally worth it.
April 2, 2025
This book explores the aftermath of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination by the LTTE, a terrorist organization. It delves into how the investigation team was formed, starting in the dark and facing a hostile environment where there was widespread sympathy for the LTTE. As the story unfolds, it exposes the decay of bureaucracy, the incompetence of intelligence agencies, and the unwillingness of RA&W to acknowledge that their own trained operatives were responsible for the assassination. The narrative also highlights the power struggles between various state police forces and investigative agencies, ultimately leading to a flawed investigation that raises more questions than it answers.
September 1, 2022
Very good book. The author has covered the story of the events post assassination of Rajiv Gandhi which finally culminated at one hideout in Bengalore with mass suicide of mastermind Sivarasan also called as one eyed Jack along with other hard core LTTE cadres. Though it does not throw much light on the detailed conspiracy hatched by Prabhakaran and what prompted him to decide to kill Rajiv Gandhi who was former Prime Minster of India and was widely expected to return to power in 1991 General Elections. It hardly mentions anything about the mind, motives and machinations of main conspirator and most deadly terrorist in the world at that time. The book gives us fine Idea about the massive manhunt launched by the SIT and other security agencies of India to unearth the one of the biggest political assassination of that time.
January 30, 2024
This book is special as the author is like an elder brother to me. Capturing every detail on the investigation of the most dramatic political assassination of India is a feat in itself as an author. Written in a simple factual narrative, the unfolding investigation gathers momentum with every page culminating to the final sequence of events. The only thing I felt missing was a historical perspective on the genesis of the Tamil conflict in Sri Lanka. I would also have loved to see a photo section of all the characters on both sides with their current status today.
November 5, 2022
I finished the book almost in one go although the bulk of the information in the book is known in varying degrees. I appreciate Anirudhya Mitra for writing the book, albeit a bit late, and for providing a deeper understanding of the circumstances, possibilities, and cover-ups before and after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Highly recommended.
October 13, 2022
Book Review*
Book-90 Days
Author-@anirudhya.mitra
Pages-243
Rating -⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
💥Omg, What have I just read. This is not just a book this is more than a book.You know what? I was lost in 1991 . The book is full of information. And no one can portray the details better than a person who has witnessed the whole process closely.
💥This book is based on the true story of the hunt of Rajiv Gandhi's Assassins. As a reported of a renowned newspaper " Indian Today ", author had to work too hard to get "Exclusive" News. And he did a mind blowing job. Don't need to believe me just read the book. The thrills of that situation were portrayed perfectly.
💥Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a human bomb on 21th May 1991 at an election rally in Sriperumbudur . But who planned to kill him and why? What was the motive of LTTE? Why a human bomb was used ? Who was the human bomb ? You will get the answer of every controversy and every question from this book.The details of the investigation is described properly. I just loved this book. I never ever have read this kind of book . This book will force you to read books out of your comfort zone. This is a must read book.
PS- I want a documentary fim based on this book 🥺.
Book-90 Days
Author-@anirudhya.mitra
Pages-243
Rating -⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
💥Omg, What have I just read. This is not just a book this is more than a book.You know what? I was lost in 1991 . The book is full of information. And no one can portray the details better than a person who has witnessed the whole process closely.
💥This book is based on the true story of the hunt of Rajiv Gandhi's Assassins. As a reported of a renowned newspaper " Indian Today ", author had to work too hard to get "Exclusive" News. And he did a mind blowing job. Don't need to believe me just read the book. The thrills of that situation were portrayed perfectly.
💥Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a human bomb on 21th May 1991 at an election rally in Sriperumbudur . But who planned to kill him and why? What was the motive of LTTE? Why a human bomb was used ? Who was the human bomb ? You will get the answer of every controversy and every question from this book.The details of the investigation is described properly. I just loved this book. I never ever have read this kind of book . This book will force you to read books out of your comfort zone. This is a must read book.
PS- I want a documentary fim based on this book 🥺.
January 15, 2023
This book is sensationally good, a fantastic read, excellent narration and deeply researched. A genuine five ✨
March 15, 2023
An assassination of a leader …
A heinous crime … bold plot … expertly executed plan …
An investigation under extreme political pressure … with time running out …
An entire nation’s crime solving might … against an unknown-and-shrewd criminal mastermind.
90 Days, by Anirudhya Mitra, is a thriller by all means … except, it is sadly a true story … one that’s close to the hearts of millions of Indians.
Mr. Rajiv Gandhi (ex-PM of India, 1984-89) was assassinated by a suicide bomber in 1991, while he was campaigning for upcoming elections.
This book covers the investigation and tells the story of what it took for investigating agencies to solve this highly sensitive case.
Anirudhya, author of the book, was a young journalist working with India Today at that time … he was tasked to investigate this case as a journalist.
This book is about what he found & uncovered, and saw & observed …
… more importantly, it is about the people who worked without rest to ensure assassins couldn’t escape and were brought to justice.
An obviously well researched & well written book, one that will keep you hooked till the end … I highly recommend 90 Days.
A heinous crime … bold plot … expertly executed plan …
An investigation under extreme political pressure … with time running out …
An entire nation’s crime solving might … against an unknown-and-shrewd criminal mastermind.
90 Days, by Anirudhya Mitra, is a thriller by all means … except, it is sadly a true story … one that’s close to the hearts of millions of Indians.
Mr. Rajiv Gandhi (ex-PM of India, 1984-89) was assassinated by a suicide bomber in 1991, while he was campaigning for upcoming elections.
This book covers the investigation and tells the story of what it took for investigating agencies to solve this highly sensitive case.
Anirudhya, author of the book, was a young journalist working with India Today at that time … he was tasked to investigate this case as a journalist.
This book is about what he found & uncovered, and saw & observed …
… more importantly, it is about the people who worked without rest to ensure assassins couldn’t escape and were brought to justice.
An obviously well researched & well written book, one that will keep you hooked till the end … I highly recommend 90 Days.
September 8, 2022
It's crisp and engaging.
September 9, 2022
A gripping story from a journalist working in India Today at the time of Rajiv Gandhi assassination.
January 14, 2023
The tragedy as I read this book is that 4 of the accused, mentioned as the core team responsible for the assassins are free.
August 20, 2022
The book Ninety Days: The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's Assassins by Anirudhya Mitra.
The e book showcases and tells approximately the hardships of the folks who selected to pursue the fact even as being hindered on each step of their adventure to pursue reality and unveil it. The tale of the officers who successfully added the conspirators to trial. The reporter charged with going deeper into the mega-story of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, after Shekhar Gupta reporting on the assassination itself and the immediate aftermath, Anirudhya Mitra, then a fairly new joinee at the august India Today newsmagazine.
Analyzing the e book will no longer simply refresh those reminiscences, you'll additionally discover nuggets of latest data, a feel of the wider conspiracy that have to had been strolling inside the history, and your speculations will by no means stop. Why became Yasser Arafat's warning to Rajiv individually omitted? How did the assassins gain VIP enclosure passes allowing direct access to Rajiv?
The author wonderfully supplied the tale which saved me hooked to it. A ought to read for individuals who are interested in journalism.
Happy Reading!
The e book showcases and tells approximately the hardships of the folks who selected to pursue the fact even as being hindered on each step of their adventure to pursue reality and unveil it. The tale of the officers who successfully added the conspirators to trial. The reporter charged with going deeper into the mega-story of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, after Shekhar Gupta reporting on the assassination itself and the immediate aftermath, Anirudhya Mitra, then a fairly new joinee at the august India Today newsmagazine.
Analyzing the e book will no longer simply refresh those reminiscences, you'll additionally discover nuggets of latest data, a feel of the wider conspiracy that have to had been strolling inside the history, and your speculations will by no means stop. Why became Yasser Arafat's warning to Rajiv individually omitted? How did the assassins gain VIP enclosure passes allowing direct access to Rajiv?
The author wonderfully supplied the tale which saved me hooked to it. A ought to read for individuals who are interested in journalism.
Happy Reading!
July 7, 2022
After 30 years, Anirudhya Mitra narrates his experiences as a journalist in India Today covering the drama of the hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's assassins. The excruciating attention to detail and research are commendable even as the author struggles to condense such thrilling stuff into a cogent and accessible narrative. Full marks to the journalist Anirudhya Mitra but being an author of a book is a much bigger vocation.
August 29, 2022
A gripping narrative of what transpired after the assassination of Late Shri Rajeev Gandhi. The teams that worked together and not so together to nail down the killers. A must read .
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