Jaffna District Member of Parliament Archchuna Ramanathan, who had been in remand custody since April 25, was ordered released on bail on Wednesday by the Mallakam Magistrate’s Court.
The MP was produced in court on the date set by the original remand order, which had detained him until April 29. Newswire reported that the Magistrate ordered his release on bail after the hearing.
Archchuna was arrested by Ilavalai Police on April 25 over allegations that he threatened two women with a firearm during a land dispute in the Periyavilaan area of Jaffna. The dispute reportedly escalated when the MP was clearing land that the courts had previously declared belonged to him, while two women also asserted partial ownership of the property.
Police said one of the women involved was also arrested the following day, spending time in remand before her own court hearing this week.
The original incident, in which Archchuna allegedly produced a firearm during the confrontation, was captured on social-media video and triggered the Firearms Ordinance investigation. The MP’s clarification at the time said the weapon had been issued to him through Ministry of Defence channels for personal protection.
Bail conditions imposed by the court were not detailed in initial reporting. The underlying criminal intimidation case and a separate civil case over land ownership remain pending.
