Activist and Youtuber Savukku Shankar on Friday moved the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court order, which sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment for criminal contempt of court.
On September 15, the Madurai Bench of Justice G.R. Swaminathan and Justice B. Pugalendhi had sent Shankar to prison for six months, after observing that the Youtuber did not express any kind of ‘regret or remorse’ and did not even apologise for his conduct.
The High Court also took note of the submissions made by Shankar, in which he ‘admitted’ of making such remarks.
As per the complaint, Shankar had allegedly said in a Youtube video, “The entire higher judiciary is riddled with corruption. It does not require a forensic mind to conclude that they are ex-facie scandalous. They denigrate and deride the institution of judiciary.” This led to initiation of contempt proceedings against him in July.
Early in September, the High Court had granted Shankar one-week time to respond to the suo motu contempt proceedings initiated against him.
Another case was filed against the activist in July, for making derogatory remarks against Madras High Court judge, Justice G.R. Swaminathan, after he quashed criminal proceedings against Youtuber Maridhas last year.
Shankar had posted a tweet, suggesting that the judge had allegedly met someone, who influenced him in favour of Maridhas.
The High Court, while observing that Shankar had crossed the ‘Lakshman Rekha,’ termed the tweet as ‘defamatory vilification’.