Vilathikulam MLA Markandeyan arrested over remarks against CM Vijay

THOOTHUKUDI: In a stern move that attracted criticisms from the opposition, the police arrested DMK’s Vilathikulam MLA GV Markandayan on Monday in connection with his speech at a public meeting in Kovilpatti on Saturday warning that he would break Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s bones.

A case was registered against the MLA on charges of criminal intimidation, making statements to disturb public peace, and intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace, said the police.

Addressing the meeting on July 18, Markandayan referred to Chief Minister Vijay’s remarks about the DMK members staging a walk out from the Assembly. “Chief Minister Vijay said that they should lock the Assembly to prevent DMK members from staging a walkout. If the Chief Minister locks the Assembly, I will break his bones,” he said.

TVK Kovilpatti district secretary Balasubramanian filed a complaint at the Kovilpatti East police station on the same day, and later submitted another complaint to district SP Abhishek Gupta. Based on this, Vilathikulam DSP Sundarapandian, District Crime Branch DSP Kannan, and a team of personnel reached the MLA’s residence at Ambal Nagar in Vilathikulam on Monday morning to arrest him.

Markandayan, who had just returned from his morning walk, argued with the police, stating that they needed to obtain the Speaker’s permission before arresting him because he is a legislator. However, the police produced the documents authorising his arrest, and detained him in his house.

The news about the MLA’s arrest brought a large number of DMK cadres gathered outside his residence. When Markandayan tried to board his own car, the police stopped him and told him to go by a police vehicle. Angered by this, DMK workers staged a road blockade in front of the police vehicles, raising slogans against the government.

Senior DMK functionaries, including MLA Anitha R Radhakrishnan, rushed to the SP office and asked the police to allow them to meet Markandayan. When the police refused, they staged a protest on the main road near the Collectorate. Similar protests were held at various places in the town, resulting in a tense situation for a few hours.

When the MLA attempted to leave in his own car, the police stopped him and asked him to board a police vehicle. Angered by the move, DMK workers staged a road blockade in front of the police vehicles, raising slogans against the State government. The incident led to tense scenes in the area for more than an hour.

The police later dispersed the protesters and took the MLA to the office of the Superintendent of Police in Thoothukudi for inquiry.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened around the SP's office. Police erected barricades at four entry points and restricted access to the premises as a large number of DMK workers gathered outside, leading to a tense situation.

The police questioned Markandayan until evening and produced him before Judicial Magistrate IV, who remanded him in custody for 15 days.

The MLA’s arrest triggered furious reactions from the DMK, with its president MK Stalin wondering if it was rule of law or that of Satan that was prevailing in the State under the TVK government. He demanded that the police follow the law rather than yielding to political pressure, warning that unlawful actions would have consequences.