Chennai, Aug 3 (IANS) The Madras High Court on Monday granted bail to the DMK’s Vilathikulam MLA G.V. Markandayan, who was arrested over an alleged public remark that his party legislators would “break the bones” of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay inside the Assembly.
Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan allowed the MLA’s regular bail petition subject to conditions, including an undertaking that he would refrain from making similar speeches against the Chief Minister in future.
The court directed Markandayan to file an affidavit to this effect before the jurisdictional magistrate in Thoothukudi. He was also ordered to appear before the investigating officer twice a day, except on days when his presence is required at the forthcoming Budget session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, scheduled to begin on August 5.
During the hearing, senior counsel P. Wilson, appearing for Markandayan, argued that the remarks attributed to the legislator were part of a political speech and did not warrant his arrest and continued incarceration.
State Public Prosecutor R. John Sathyan informed the court that the Budget session was due to commence shortly and said the bail plea could be considered if the legislator expressed remorse over his remarks. He also sought an affidavit of undertaking from the MLA to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional magistrate.
Markandayan had moved the High Court after a sessions court in Thoothukudi rejected his bail application last week, taking into account the seriousness of the statements allegedly made during the public meeting.
The MLA had earlier challenged his July 20 judicial remand before the High Court and sought his release. Justice Ilanthiraiyan had reserved orders on that petition on July 28.
Subsequently, Markandayan filed the regular bail petition after failing to secure relief from the sessions court.
The Thoothukudi District Crime Branch registered the case following a complaint lodged by S. Balasubramanian on July 19. The complaint related to Markandayan’s speech at a DMK meeting held near the Kovilpatti Krishnan 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 Legislative Assembly”.
Police booked Markandayan under Sections 351(3), 352 and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, dealing with criminal intimidation, intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace, and statements conducing to public mischief, respectively.
–IANS
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