Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam has been granted bail after appearing before the Mallakam Magistrate’s Court in Jaffna for allegedly violating court orders during a protest in front of the Thai Itti Tissa Raja Maha Viharaya.
Mallakam Magistrate Gayathri Selvam released Ponnambalam on personal bail of Rs. 100,000 and scheduled the next hearing for June 26. During court proceedings, the magistrate questioned the MP about why he violated court orders to participate in the protest. Ponnambalam’s lawyer, S. Mahindan, argued that his client had not received the court order properly and in time, insisting that the protest was not intended to disrespect the judiciary.
The case took a serious turn when the magistrate inquired about a Facebook post—allegedly under Ponnambalam’s name—threatening an attack on the Tissa temple in Jaffna. However, Ponnambalam’s defense stated that the post was not made by him, but by an unauthorized person using a fake account. His lawyer emphasized that the MP had no involvement in the statement and had been falsely implicated.
Following these claims, the magistrate directed the Kankesanthurai Police to launch an investigation into the Facebook account responsible for the controversial post and submit a case report. The developments have sparked discussions regarding the security of religious sites in Jaffna and the political tensions surrounding the incident.
