Tamil Folk Singer Arrested for Sedition Over Song Criticising Jayalalithaa

Kovan, known in Tamil Nadu for his songs against alcoholism, was arrested overnight at his residence after police found a video of the song allegedly condemning the state's popular leader, Jayalalithaa Jayaram.

He has been arrested for two of his songs, Moodu Tasmac Moodu and Ooruku oru Sarayam.

Kovan's lawyer Gym Raj Milton was quoted in News Minute report saying that the singer has been arrested under 124A (sedition), 153 (attempt to create enmity between social groups) and 502/1 (sale any printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter) by the Chennai city crime branch police.

"Such content material had extremely seditious, slanderous direct references together with pictures, and lyrics, to the federal government and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa", he added. "Such content had (some) slanderous references to DMK chief Karunanidhi too (over liqour vending by State)".

The songs have gone viral according to the state police with the Chief Minister anxious about the impact on the Assembly elections next year. As is usual with any ultra-Left propaganda it had sharp anti-government views "seeking to protect" the people, they said.

The singer Kovan's song, uploaded on YouTube, demands the closure of government liquor shops in Tamil Nadu.

With a standard drum and sporting a deep-purple headgear, he used to sing naked-chested in dhoti just like any people artiste.