Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Organisational Secretary RS Bharathi claimed that late Tamil Nadu leader and DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi, popularly known as Kalaignar, personally intervened to secure the release of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran from prison in the early 1980s.
Speaking at a recent event, Bharathi recalled how Prabhakaran had visited Chennai prior to the surge of the armed Tamil resistance in 1983. During this visit, a gunfight reportedly broke out between Prabhakaran’s team and another faction, leading to his arrest and appearance at the Saidapet Court.
"Before 1983, Prabhakaran came to Chennai. A gunfight broke out between his team and another, leading to Prabhakaran's arrest, and he was brought to Saidapet Court," said Bharathi.
At the time, Bharathi served as the Secretary of the Saidapet Lawyers Bar. He recounted that "no one supported Prabhakaran then, and he couldn't get bail." However, he said Karunanidhi directly intervened, phoning Bharathi and instructing him to ensure that Prabhakaran did not go to jail.
"Kalaignar called me over the phone and said that Prabhakaran, belonging to LTTE, is being brought for remand and that I'll have to get bail somehow," Bharathi stated. Although Bharathi reminded Karunanidhi that a local surety was necessary, he was told, "Do whatever, but Prabhakaran should not go to jail."
"After arguing in court, I secured his release on own bail," Bharathi added. "The next day, he escaped."
Bharathi underlined that at that time, Tamil Nadu was under the rule of MG Ramachandran (MGR), and support for the Tamil Eelam cause was politically fraught. His claims come despite MGR’s documented close relations with Prabhakaran and supporting the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle.
In his remarks, Bharathi also took aim at Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leader Senthamizhan Seeman, accusing him of misusing Prabhakaran’s image and legacy for political gain. "You are cheating people by using his name and editing his picture. Do you even know Prabhakaran?" he questioned, pointing to his own role in securing Prabhakaran’s release as evidence of the DMK’s historic support.
