Madras High Court grants bail to Vilathikulam DMK MLA Markandayan for speech against Tamil Nadu CM Vijay
Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan directs him to file an affidavit before Thoothukudi judicial magistrate undertaking that he shall not make such speeches in the future
On August 3, 2026, the Madras High Court granted bail to Vilathikulam DMK MLA G.V. Markandayan following a speech in which he allegedly threatened Chief Minister Vijay. Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan granted the bail with conditions, including filing an affidavit with the jurisdictional magistrate in Thoothukudi, stating that he will not make such threats against the Chief Minister.
The MLA must also appear before an investigating officer twice daily, except on days when the Legislative Assembly's Budget session is in session. The High Court's decision came after senior counsel P. Wilson argued that the MLA's speech was political in nature and did not justify arrest or incarceration. The State Public Prosecutor, R. John Sathyan, stated that the MLA's bail plea could be considered if he expressed remorse and filed an affidavit of undertaking to the satisfaction of the judicial magistrate.
The High Court reserved orders on a previous petition filed by Markandayan on July 28, 2026, which challenged his July 20, 2026, judicial remand order. The FIR was registered under Sections 351(3), 352, and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) after a complaint was filed by S. Balasubramanian on July 19, 2026, alleging that Markandayan threatened that his party legislators would "break the bones of the Chief Minister inside the Legislative Assembly."
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