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In this paper, we explore the behavior of optical polarization during themulti-wavelength outburst of the blazar Mrk 421 detected in February 2010. Weuse optical polarization measurements in the wavelength range 500-700 nm fromSPOL observations available between January 1, 2010 and March 31, 2010 (MJD55197-55286) including the period of multi-wavelength flaring activity detectedfrom the source around February 16-17, 2010 (MJD 55243-55244). We also use nearsimultaneous optical and radio flux measurements from SPOL in V and R bands andOVRO at 15 GHz respectively. We find that the emissions in the optical andradio bands do not show any significant change in the source activity unlike atX-ray and $\gamma$--ray energies during the outburst. The optical and radioflux measurements are found to be consistent with the long term quiescent stateemission of the source. Moreover, the linear polarization in the wavelengthrange 500-700 nm decreases to a minimum value of 1.6$\%$ during the X-ray and$\gamma$--ray outburst which is significantly lower than the long term averagevalue of $\sim$ 4.2$\%$. The angle of polarization varies between114$^\circ$-163$^\circ$ with a preferred average value of $\sim$ 137$^\circ$during this period. We estimate the degree of polarization intrinsic to the jettaking into account the host galaxy contamination in R band and compare thiswith the theoretical synchrotron polarization estimated for a power lawdistribution of relativistic electrons gyrating in an emission region filledwith ordered and chaotic magnetic fields. The intrinsic linear polarizationestimated for different epochs during the above period is found to beconsistent with the theoretical synchrotron polarization produced by therelativistic electrons with power law spectral index $\sim$ 2.2.

Optical polarization properties of February 2010 outburst of the blazar Mrk 421