MDMK chief Vaiko sentenced to 15 days in prison over 2009 sedition case

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Vaiko has been sentenced to 15 days in prison for a sedition case in 2009, Indian media reported. Vaiko, who refused to seek bail in the case, was accused of making a speech in favour of the militant group the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Vaiko surrendered before a Metropolitan court in Chennai on Monday. He has been lodged at Puzhal Central Prison, PTI reported. The case was filed against him by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam at the time. It relates to an allegedly “seditious” speech he had made at his book launch in Chennai in 2009, The Times of India reported. The book, Naan Kutram Sattugiren (“I Accuse You”), is a compilation of letters Vaiko had written to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The MDMK leader refused bail in order to put pressure on authorities to begin a trial in the eight-year-old case, according to The Times of India.

According to Indian media he was the first Member of Parliament to be detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for supporting the LTTE.