Chennai: The Madras high court has dismissed a petition seeking direction to police to release Tamil folk singer Kovan, whose detention under sedition charges kicked up widespread resentment among social activists. His arrest went viral on social media and television channels.
A Division bench of Justices R. Sudhakar and P.N. Prakash before which a habeas corpus petition was filed by his friend, V. Venkatesan, came up for hearing, refused to set the singer free. The petitioner alleged that CCB police detained Sivadas alias Kovan, 45, at 2.30am on October 30 at his residence in Tiruchy. Kovan of Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam sang folks songs seeking the closure of Tasmac outlets. The petitioner sought a directive to CCB to produce him before the court and set him at liberty.
The additional public prosecutor submitted an FIR copy and said a case had been registered on October 28 under Sections 124-A, 153, 505(i)(b) and (c) IPC. Kovan had been remanded to judicial custody.
The bench said “In the circumstances, as is evident from the records that the police had taken recourse to law by registering the FIR as prescribed under law, by no stretch of imagination it could be stated that he is in illegal custody”. “Therefore, no case is made out for grant of the relief as sought for. The judges said “However, it is always open to the detenu to work out his remedy in respect of any other grievance in a manner known to law”.
