Folk-artiste Kovan facing sedition charges in Tamil Nadu gets bail

After almost four weeks of being arrested on charges of sedition, Tamil folk singer Kovan was granted bail by a Chennai sessions court on Monday.

A report in the Times of India adds:

Kovan was arrested on October 30 for criticising Tamil Nadu government over liquor issue and alleged derogatory reference to chief minister Jayalalithaa. More than his arrest, the invocation of sedition charge against the activist who had made several popular folk songs on various subjects, had hit the headlines. 

A member of the Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam based in Trichy, Kovan had been picked up by the Chennai police for releasing a song on alcoholism in the state, blaming the Jayalalithaa government for the same.

Members of the MKIK had earlier told TNM that officers of the Chennai police arrived at folk-singer Kovan’s house at Oraiyur in Trichy at 2AM on October 30 and detained him.

In the soundtrack released by MKIK, Kovan sings that the whole of Tamil Nadu is under the influence of alcohol and ‘Poes’ is rejoicing at that, ‘Poes’ being a reference to the residence of TN CM Jayalalithaa at Poes Garden in Chennai.

He talks about the increasing price of food and education in the state and then sings, “if you don’t cry out that she is your saviour, then you will be killed”.

The song then goes on to point out how schools are being closed but liquor shops are being opened, and how everyone is being made to drink alcohol. The singer also talks about ‘Midas Distilleries’ which is often linked with Sasikala, Jayalaithaa’s close aide.The song is said to have gone viral on social media and WhatsApp groups.

He was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including sedition.

The Madras high court, at a special sitting last week, cancelled the singer's police custody and ordered that Kovan be immediately sent back to normal judicial custody. 

Following this, he was granted bail on Monday.

The judge directed Kovan to appear before the Investigation Officer as and when required and also to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5,000, a report in The Indian Express adds.