Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju has asked President Pranab Mukherjee’s help to get all charges dropped against folk-artiste Kovan who sang songs criticising TASMAC shops and the state government.

In his letter to the President, he wrote that in a democratic government, people have the right to criticise the government and he did not do anything violent or his actions did not incite violence.

He said that if the state government thinks that it was defamatory then those charges should have been charged against him. But there was no warrant to charge sedition charges.

He also added that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa acted unconstitutionally.

Kovan, the folk-artiste from Makkal Kalati Ilakkiya Kazhagam (MKIK) performing arts group was arrested on October 30 by Chennai police from Tiruchy for singing songs against TASMAC shops and the state government.

He was produced before the Egmore Court for bail claiming that the Chennai police did not follow procedures during Kovan’s arrest. But the court refused to give him bail.

On October 7, the Madras High Court had stayed the custodial interrogation of Kovan by the Chennai police. The police claimed that he had links with Naxals but when the court asked for proof they did not have anything.