Madras High Court Grants Bail to DMK MLA Markandeyan for Threatening Remarks Against CM

Chennai, August 3: The Madras High Court granted bail on Monday to DMK MLA G.V. Markandeyan from Vilathikulam. He was arrested for allegedly making threatening statements, claiming that DMK legislators would “break the bones” of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay inside the assembly.

Justice G.K. Ilanthirayan approved Markandeyan’s regular bail petition with certain conditions, including an undertaking that he would refrain from making such statements against the Chief Minister in the future.

The court instructed Markandeyan to file an affidavit before the jurisdictional magistrate in Thoothukudi. He was also ordered to appear before the investigating officer twice daily, except on days when his presence is required for the upcoming budget session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, starting August 5.

During the hearing, senior advocate P. Wilson, representing Markandeyan, argued that the MLA’s remarks were part of a political speech and did not warrant his arrest or continued detention.

State Public Prosecutor R. John Sathyan informed the court that the budget session is approaching and mentioned that if the MLA expresses remorse, the bail application could be reconsidered. He also requested an affidavit from the MLA for the satisfaction of the jurisdictional magistrate.

Markandeyan had approached the High Court after a Thoothukudi session court rejected his bail plea last week.

Previously, he challenged his judicial remand from July 20 in the High Court, seeking his release. Justice Ilanthirayan reserved the order on that petition on July 28. Following the lack of relief from the session court, Markandeyan filed a regular bail petition.

The Thoothukudi District Crime Branch registered the case on July 19 after a complaint by S. Balasubramaniam. The complaint was related to Markandeyan’s speech at a DMK meeting near Kovilpatti Krishna Temple on July 18. According to the complainant, the MLA allegedly threatened that DMK legislators would “break the bones” of the Chief Minister inside the assembly.

The police charged Markandeyan under Sections 351(3), 352, and 353(2) of the Indian Penal Code, which pertain to criminal intimidation, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, and making mischievous statements in public.