Published Jul 20, 2026 | 10:15 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 20, 2026 | 10:15 PM
Vilathikulam DMK MLA GV Markandayan with former Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Synopsis: Tamil Nadu Police arrested Vilathikulam DMK MLA GV Markandayan over remarks in which he allegedly threatened Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at a public meeting in Kovilpatti. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody until 3 August. The case arose after a video of Markandayan’s speech at the public meeting in Kovilpatti went viral on social media.
Tamil Nadu Police arrested Vilathikulam DMK MLA GV Markandayan on Monday, 20 July over remarks he made against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay during a public meeting in Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district.
A police team led by District Crime Branch Inspector P Janaki brought the MLA to the office of the Thoothukudi Superintendent of Police for inquiry before producing him before Judicial Magistrate Court No. 1 in Thoothukudi.
Judicial Magistrate Sumathi remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody until 3 August after observing that the speech allegedly amounted to issuing threats against the Chief Minister.
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The case arose after a video of Markandayan’s speech at the Kovilpatti public meeting went viral on social media.
In the video, the MLA says: “Shame on the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Do you think we are clowns? We will deal with you in the Assembly. Convene the Assembly; if you do, we will not let you leave without breaking your bones.”
TVK Thoothukudi North East District Joint Secretary P Kasiraman subsequently lodged a complaint with Thoothukudi Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta, seeking legal action against the legislator.
Based on the complaint, the police registered a case against Markandayan under Sections 351(3) (criminal intimidation involving serious threats), 352 (intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of the peace) and 353(2) (statements intended to promote enmity or hatred on the basis of religion, caste, language or other social identities) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Tension prevailed outside the Thoothukudi SP’s office after the police reportedly refused to allow Kovilpatti MLA Karunanidhi, a team of lawyers and other visitors to meet Markandayan, stating that no one would be allowed inside until the inquiry concluded.
The police subsequently took Markandayan to a government hospital for a medical examination. Speaking to reporters on the way, he alleged that officials had conducted the inquiry at the Superintendent of Police’s office “at gunpoint.”
Meanwhile, senior DMK leaders, including former Ministers Anitha R Radhakrishnan and Geetha Jeevan, staged a protest against the arrest. The police detained Geetha Jeevan and several DMK functionaries and took them to a nearby community hall before releasing them later.
Markandayan’s arrest is the second involving a senior DMK legislator from Thoothukudi district this month. It came less than three weeks after the police arrested former Fisheries Minister and Tiruchendur DMK MLA Anitha R Radhakrishnan in a separate case over his alleged remarks against Chief Minister Vijay, amid escalating tensions between the ruling TVK and the principal Opposition DMK.
The police took Radhakrishnan into custody on 3 July after the Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. A Judicial Magistrate Court in Thoothukudi later granted him conditional bail.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
