The Chennai police on Tuesday released Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Vaiko after detaining him for seven hours for entering the city along with 3,000 supporters, despite a ban, to conclude his 42-day 'Renaissance March'.

Vaiko was scheduled to resume his march at around 1030 IST.

But he started at 0100 IST itself. When he reached the memorial of DMK founder C N Annadurai at around 0345 IST, he found it locked.

From there he proceeded to Island Ground, where his march was to culminate into a rally in the evening. But even before he entered the ground he and six others were taken into custody.

"I am courting arrest to save my boys," he said before boarding a police van. Vaiko was taken to a police station at Chindadripet area.

The police had banned the procession citing a Supreme Court order prohibiting processions on the city's main roads.