Chennai High Court Grants Conditional Bail to Vilathikulam DMK MLA Markandeyan

A DMK public meeting was held in Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi district, on the 18th of last month. Vilathikulam constituency DMK MLA Markandeyan, who attended the event, made remarks widely condemned as threatening and defamatory toward Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay.

Based on a complaint filed over the speech, police arrested Markandeyan on the 20th. He was subsequently produced before a court, which ordered him remanded to 15 days of judicial custody. He was then lodged in Palayamkottai prison, Nellai (Tirunelveli).

Markandeyan filed a bail petition at the Thoothukudi court, which was rejected on the 22nd. He filed a second bail petition at the same court; that too was dismissed. He then moved the Chennai High Court with a fresh petition.

Hearing the petition today, the Chennai High Court granted Markandeyan conditional bail with the following conditions:

• He must give an undertaking that he will not make such remarks in the future.
• He must report to the Thoothukudi police station every day and sign in.
• An exemption from the daily sign-in is granted on days the state assembly is in session.

What Markandeyan Said

The remarks that led to his arrest were: "The shameless Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu — we will deal with you inside the assembly. Do you think we are fools? You're going to lock the assembly? If you lock it, there won't be a bone left — we will break it and send you. Tamil Nadu, and indeed all of Indian history, has never seen such a disgraceful Chief Minister."