The president of the Coordination Committee of All Farmers Associations of Tamil Nadu, P.R. Pandian, who was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment recently on charges of causing damages to public property, was released on bail from the Tiruchi Central Prison here on Monday.
Earlier, this month Mr. Pandian, along with another person, was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment by a Fast Track Court in Tiruvarur in a case relating to damage of ONGC properties during a protest in 2015. They were granted bail by the Madras High Court following an appeal.
Speaking to reporters after being released from the prison here, Mr. Pandian denied that he had damaged any public property during the demonstration and alleged that it was a foisted case.
Thanking farmers’ leaders and others who had opposed the sentence and supported him, Mr. Pandian said that he viewed the sentence to be a threat and challenge to the entire farmer fraternity.
P. Ayyakannu, president, Desiya Thennindiya Nadigal Innaippu Vivasyigal Sangam, who welcomed Mr. Pandian upon his release from prison along with other farmers leaders, said that farmers had a democratic right to protest. Chief Minister M.K.Stalin, who says he would stand by farmers always, should withdraw all the cases filed against farmers for staging protests on various issues across the State. “If not, farmers will come together and stage a protest in Chennai,” he said.
Published – December 22, 2025 06:43 pm IST
