DMK MLA Markandayan‘s bail plea to come up for hearing today in defamation case
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Thoothukudi, July 22 : The bail plea of DMK legislator G.V. Markandayan, who was arrested in connection with a defamation case over his alleged remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, is scheduled to come up for hearing before a court in Thoothukudi on Wednesday.
Markandeyan, the MLA representing the Vilathikulam Assembly constituency, was arrested by the Thoothukudi District Crime Branch on Tuesday after a case was registered against him for allegedly making defamatory and provocative remarks about the Chief Minister during a public meeting held in Kovilpatti.
According to the police, the legislator was taken into custody on Tuesday morning and brought to the District Police Office, where he underwent nearly 11 hours of sustained questioning as part of the investigation.
The case relates to a speech delivered by the MLA at a recent public gathering, which police alleged contained objectionable remarks directed at the Chief Minister.
Following the interrogation, Markandayan was produced before the Judicial Magistrate No. I Court in Thoothukudi.
During the proceedings, the investigating agency sought police custody of the MLA to facilitate further interrogation and filed a petition before Judicial Magistrate Sumathi.
The court, however, declined the request for police custody.
Rejecting the petition, the magistrate remanded Markandayan to 15 days of judicial custody till August 3.
He was subsequently lodged in the Palayamkottai Central Prison. Soon after the remand order, the legislator moved a bail application before the court.
The petition was admitted, and the matter has now been posted for hearing on Wednesday.
According to the court’s online cause list, arguments on the bail plea are expected to be heard during the course of the day.
The outcome of the bail hearing is being closely watched, with the case assuming political significance amid the ongoing confrontation between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government and the opposition DMK.
The arrest has triggered sharp political reactions, with the DMK accusing the government of targeting opposition leaders through criminal cases, while the ruling side has maintained that the law would take its course and that no individual is above the law.
The court’s decision on the bail plea is expected to determine the immediate legal course for the legislator while the police investigation into the case continues.
Markandeyan, the MLA representing the Vilathikulam Assembly constituency, was arrested by the Thoothukudi District Crime Branch on Tuesday after a case was registered against him for allegedly making defamatory and provocative remarks about the Chief Minister during a public meeting held in Kovilpatti.
According to the police, the legislator was taken into custody on Tuesday morning and brought to the District Police Office, where he underwent nearly 11 hours of sustained questioning as part of the investigation.
The case relates to a speech delivered by the MLA at a recent public gathering, which police alleged contained objectionable remarks directed at the Chief Minister.
Following the interrogation, Markandayan was produced before the Judicial Magistrate No. I Court in Thoothukudi.
During the proceedings, the investigating agency sought police custody of the MLA to facilitate further interrogation and filed a petition before Judicial Magistrate Sumathi.
The court, however, declined the request for police custody.
Rejecting the petition, the magistrate remanded Markandayan to 15 days of judicial custody till August 3.
He was subsequently lodged in the Palayamkottai Central Prison. Soon after the remand order, the legislator moved a bail application before the court.
The petition was admitted, and the matter has now been posted for hearing on Wednesday.
According to the court’s online cause list, arguments on the bail plea are expected to be heard during the course of the day.
The outcome of the bail hearing is being closely watched, with the case assuming political significance amid the ongoing confrontation between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government and the opposition DMK.
The arrest has triggered sharp political reactions, with the DMK accusing the government of targeting opposition leaders through criminal cases, while the ruling side has maintained that the law would take its course and that no individual is above the law.
The court’s decision on the bail plea is expected to determine the immediate legal course for the legislator while the police investigation into the case continues.
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