New Delhi: The Supreme Court today stayed the release of three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case by the Tamil Nadu government, saying there have been procedural lapses on the part of the state.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam directed the state government to maintain status quo regarding three prisoners whose death sentence was commuted to life term by it and said the Centre can file a fresh petition regarding the other four prisoners whose sentence has also been remitted.