The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the consolidation of multiple FIRs registered against YouTuber Savukku Shankar over his alleged derogatory remarks against certain judges of High Courts, journalists, and police personnel.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar further ordered that the investigation into the primary FIR registered on May 3, 2024, at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Coimbatore would continue.
Material and evidence from other FIRs, except for crime no. 10, should be transferred to the investigating officer handling the primary case, said the Bench, adding that probe into crime no. 10 would proceed independently.
Appearing for the State of Tamil Nadu, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra pointed out the alleged statements made by the petitioner in the court.
Representing CBI, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that Shankar’s petition should be dismissed due to his controversial statements against the High Court judges, police officials and journalists.
Appearing for the YouTuber, Advocate Balaji Srinivasan apprised the Court that Shankar had issued an unconditional apology over his remarks.
The Bench directed that the investigation shall proceed expeditiously without judicial interference in its methodology. It further granted liberty to the concerned parties to approach the Court for relief, in case the petitioner violated any Court orders.
On September 25, 2024, the Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra ordered the release of Shankar, who was detained under the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Forest Offenders, Sand Offenders, Slum-Grabbers and Video Pirates (Tamil Nadu ‘Goondas’) Act, 1982.
The top court of the country passed the order on two petitions, including a habeas corpus plea filed by Shankar’s mother challenging his detention under the 1982 Act.
The second petition was moved by the YouTuber challenging the 16 FIRs filed against him over an online interview.
Appearing for the State of Tamil Nadu, Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Siddarth Luthra apprised the Apex Court that the State of Tamil Nadu has revoked the order of detention on the advise of the Advisory Board.
The Bench recorded in its order that acting on the opinion of the Advisory Board, the State of Tamil Nadu revoked the order of detention on September 25, 2024. In view of the aforesaid, detenue Savukku Shankar shall be released forthwith, if not required in any other case.
On August 9, 2024, the Madras High Court quashed Shankar’s previous detention relating to certain alleged adverse remarks against police officials.
Soon after release, he was detained under the Tamil Nadu ‘Goondas’ Act, 1982.
The habeas corpus petition titled ‘A. Kamala Versus State Of Tamil Nadu And Ors’ contended that on August 12, Shankar was granted bail. He was scheduled to be released from jail at 5 pm. On the same day at 5:45 pm, the YouTuber was again detained indefinitely in connection with an NDPS case in which he was granted bail four months ago, it added.
Earlier on August 14, 2024, the Apex Court stayed any coercive proceedings in light of the pending challenge to the 16 FIRs against the journalist and YouTuber.
Shankar was arrested on May 4, 2024, for allegedly making defamatory remarks against female police personnel during an interview with the YouTube channel RedPix 24×7 on April 30, 2024.
A total of 16 FIRs were filed against him in different districts of Tamil Nadu, all related to the April 30 interview.
In July 2024, the Apex Court granted him interim relief in a preventive detention case, which was quashed by the High Court on August 9.