DMDK chief Vijayakanth’s arrest stayed till January 5

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday stayed the arrest of DMDK leader Vijayakanth till January 5. 

The Thanjavur police had filed a case against the actor-politician for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa and for removing her photo at a bus stop. When the case came up for hearing before the vacation Judge Justice Chockalingam, Vijayakanth’s advocate pleaded innocence claiming that the police had filed a false case. 

However, since the Government pleader sought more time to file a counter, Vijayakanth’s advocate sought the court to restrain the police from arresting him. Based on this the judge stayed his arrest and directed the Government to file a report on January 5, 2016.

Even as AIADMK workers and journalists intensified the protests against Vijayakanth, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa today appealed to her party cadre to refrain from doing so. The protests by journalists came after Vijayakanth spat at reporters in Chennai on December 27.

The AIADMK members were agitating for his remarks against Ms Jayalalithaa and for damaging and bringing down a vinyl board of her in Thanjavur yesterday. 

Meanwhile, Vijayakanth also led a protest in Cuddalore on Monday, amid high tension as both party members gathered at the venue in large numbers.