DMK legislator held for defamatory speech against TN CM

Opposition DMK MLA, GV Markandeyan, was arrested on Monday for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, drawing sharp criticism from the party president MK Stalin, who denounced the police action.

Markandeyan, representing the Vilathikulam Assembly constituency, was picked up by a police team from his residence amidst protests by his supporters who raised slogans condemning the police action.

He was later arrested, a police official said, and added that his arrest followed a complaint from the ruling TVK functionary over his controversial speech threatening the chief minister.

The police registered an FIR against Markandeyan under three sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — criminal intimidation, intentional insult with intent to provoke breaching public peace, and spreading false information, following a complaint lodged by P Kasiram, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam functionary, the official said.

While addressing a public meeting in Kovilpatti in the district on July 18, Markandeyan had issued threats and made derogatory remarks against the chief minister, which were found in bad taste. Kasiram had said in his complaint to the police.

In the viral video of his arrest, the legislator could be heard saying that he could not be arrested without the permission of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker, since he was an MLA. The police had to convince the MLA to take him to the police station, even as his supporters staged a protest in front of his house.

Markandeyan is the second legislator from the DMK to be arrested from the Tuticorin district within weeks. Former State minister Anita R Radhakrishnan, representing the Tiruchendur Assembly constituency in the district, was arrested on July 3, allegedly for making a defamatory speech against Vijay.

Strongly condemning the arrest, Stalin accused the ruling TVK of political vendetta and said the former DMK ministers and party legislators were “continuously hunted” for pointing out the mistakes and misdeeds done by the current regime.

“The court recently pulled up the Government for adding unrelated criminal sections even in defamation cases,” the former Chief Minister said on ‘X’ and claimed that the arrested MLA was denied a meeting with his lawyer and supporters.

“Those who went to deliver medicines to him (Markandeyan) were prevented, and even the basic legal and human rights of the arrested person have also been denied. Is what is happening in Tamil Nadu the rule of law or the rule of Satan?” Stalin asked.

He sought to know why the TVK Government, which is “reluctant to take action against a minister who powdered a tablet in the stadium, those involved in the gang rape of a woman, was arresting those making political remarks.”

The DMK chief was apparently referring to the incident of a TVK functionary, who, before becoming a minister, had powdered a pill to be administered to his daughter who fell sick during a cricket match, and also the alleged sexual assault of a woman in Tuticorin under the pretext of providing her a job.