MDMK Chief Vaiko Sentenced To One Year Imprisonment Over Pro-LTTE Speech

Secretary general of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Vaiko, has been awarded a sentence of one year imprisonment by a Chennai special court for a speech which he gave in 2009 supporting the proscribed terror outfit LTTE, reports The Times of India.

He has also been ordered to pay a fine of Rs 10,000. Vaiko has been convicted under Section 124 (a) of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with sedition.

In the speech in question, Vaiko had attacked the Indian government and made remarks in favour of LTTE.

The sentence, however, does not mark the end of legal proceedings in the case as Judge J Shanthi has permitted Vaiko to file an appeal against the special court’s order within a period of one month.

There was a part of the judgment, which Vaiko vehemently objected, to that suggested that he had previously sought leniency in punishment.

"I never sought a lenient punishment. Give me the highest punishment. I am prepared for it," Vaiko told the court.