VCK Deputy General Secretary and Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu has said that the Tamil Nadu Government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has granted 60 days of parole to five Muslim life convicts in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blast case, describing the decision as the outcome of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s (VCK) sustained efforts.
The five prisoners are Mohammed Hassan alias Monappa, Mohammed Ali, Mohammed Azam, Mohammed Ansari and Nawab Khan.
According to the statement issued by Vanni Arasu, they have been granted 60 days of parole as a first step towards the party’s demand for the permanent release of 22 Muslim prisoners who have spent a long time in prison.
நீண்ட காலம் சிறையில் வாடும் 22 இசுலாமிய சிறைவாசிகளின் நிரந்தர விடுதலையே விடுதலைச் சிறுத்தைகள் கட்சியின் நிலைப்பாடாக உள்ளது. இவர்களின் விடுதலை கோரிக்கை தொடர்பாக தமிழக முஸ்லிம் சிறைவாசிகள் குடும்பங்கள் கூட்டமைப்பின் சார்பில் அதன் பொறுப்பாளர்கள் மற்றும் சிறைவாசிகளின் குடும்பத்தினர்,… pic.twitter.com/dZF6PJ8rl0
— வன்னி அரசு (@VanniTamizhVCK) October 16, 2026
TVK Madurai MLA Mustafa welcomed the decision in a post on X, thanking the Chief Minister for ordering parole for prisoners lodged in Coimbatore prison.
“We express our millions of thanks to the esteemed Chief Minister Victory Commander for ordering the granting of parole to Coimbatore prison inmates,” Mustafa said.
கோவை சிறைவாசிகளுக்கு பரோல் விடுப்பு வழங்கி உத்தரவிட்டுள்ள மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் வெற்றி தளபதி அவர்களுக்கு கோடான கோடி நன்றிகளைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறோம்#cmvijay #CMOTAMILNADU
— VMS MUSTAFA MLA (@VMS_MUSTAFA_MLA) October 15, 2026
In a post on X dated October 16, Vanni Arasu said the VCK had consistently advocated the release of the 22 prisoners and had taken up the issue with the Tamil Nadu Government following representations from their families.
The minister said office-bearers of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Prisoners’ Families Federation and family members of the prisoners met VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan at the party’s office in the Secretariat. They explained their legal struggle and requested him to exert pressure on the state government to secure their release.
According to Vanni Arasu, the VCK approached Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmalkumar on May 25, 2026, seeking long-term parole as a first step and premature release in accordance with the applicable rules.
He further said that, on Thirumavalavan’s instructions, the party met Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on June 16, 2026, and submitted its demand for leave and premature release for all 22 Muslim life convicts.
The minister cited the Tamil Nadu Government’s furlough rules, G.O. Ms. No. 82, Home (Prison-V), Framing of Tamil Nadu Prisons – Release on Furlough Rules, 2026, and Rule 40 of the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982. He also referred to a Madras High Court judgement dated April 2, 2026, concerning the Governor’s role in decisions on sentence remission and premature release.
Vanni Arasu said VCK MLA Jothimani Ilaiyaperumal, representing Kattumannarkoil, had also raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly during the discussion on the demand for grants.
Crediting the party’s efforts for the government’s decision to grant parole to the five prisoners, Vanni Arasu thanked the Chief Minister and the Law Minister. He said the VCK would continue its efforts until all 22 prisoners were permanently released.
The 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts killed 58 people and injured hundreds. The parole decision has drawn criticism from political opponents and social media users, who have questioned the release of convicts in a case involving mass casualties.
BJP leader SG Suryah questions government’s decision
Tamil Nadu BJP youth wing functionary SG Suryah criticised the decision, raising concerns over public safety and accusing the TVK government of prioritising political considerations.
“Parole for 1998 Coimbatore blast convicts? TVK comprises our safety for votes. Which is unparadonable,” he said in a post on X.
Parole for 1998 Coimbatore blast convicts? #TVK compromises our safety for votes.
கோவை குண்டுவெடிப்பு குற்றவாளிகளுக்கு பரோலா?
வாக்குக்காக மக்களின் பாதுகாப்பை விற்கும் த.வெ.க அரசை கோவை மன்னிக்காது!#TVKFails pic.twitter.com/tcUidkR9pb
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) October 17, 2026
Another social media post stated: “Bail to terrorists who killed the innocents in 1998 blasts. DMK is far better than TVK in this issue. what was shame for the TN other than this?”
கோவை குண்டு வெடிப்பு வழக்கின் தீவிரவாதிகளுக்கு தமிழக தவெக அரசு பரோல் வழங்கியுள்ளது.🚨
☠️முகமது ஹாசன்
☠️ முகமது அலி
☠️முகமது ஆஜம்
☠️முகமது அன்சாரி
☠️நவாப்கான்அப்பாவி மக்களை கொன்ற தீவிரவாதிகளுக்கு பரோல்…🙃
இந்த விஷயத்துல திமுக காரன் கூட பரவால்ல போல. பல அப்பாவி மக்களை கொடூரமா… pic.twitter.com/WnQZwQ62Q0
— 🪷 MЄЄƝƛ ƖƳЄƦ 🪷 (@Maha_Periyavaa) October 17, 2026
Reacting to VCK leader Thirumavalavan’s demand for the release of 22 Muslim prisoners who have spent a long time in jail, social media user Pulivetti Siddhar questioned whether prisoners from other religious communities would receive similar consideration on grounds of prolonged incarceration and health issues.
“Can’t other prisons from Hindu, Christian, Jain and other community do not deserve to be released on the same ground of long incarceration and health issues. Why only 22 Muslims prisoners who are convicted for Coimbatore serial bomb blasts that killed hundreds of innocent public and injuring serval hundreds. Take efforts to release all of them from prisons,” the user asked.
The debate has also centred on the broader demand for the premature release of Muslim prisoners serving sentences in different cases across Tamil Nadu. Muslim organisations and several political parties have pressed successive governments to consider the release of long-term prisoners.
The VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), both of which had previously raised the issue with the DMK government and are now part of the TVK-led alliance and government, have continued to press for action.
Earlier, Vanni Arasu also supported demands to increase the reservation quota for Muslims in education and employment from 3.5 per cent to 5 or 7 per cent.
Previous DMK government faced similar demand
The demand for the release of Muslim life convicts had also been raised during the previous DMK government led by M.K. Stalin.
The AIADMK had urged the DMK government to take legal steps to release Muslim prisoners who had been incarcerated for more than 20 years. Stalin had said his government had acted on the recommendations of a committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice N. Authinathan and sent a list of 49 life convicts, including 20 Muslim prisoners, to Tamil Nadu then Governor R.N. Ravi for approval for premature release.
