The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the release of YouTuber Savukku Shankar, currently in detention under the Tamil Nadu ‘Goondas’ Act, 1982.
The Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra passed the order on two petitions, including a habeas corpus plea filed by Shankar’s mother challenging his recent detention under the Tamil Nadu ‘Goondas’ Act 1982.
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, the Madras High Court had quashed Shankar’s previous detention relating to certain alleged adverse remarks against police officials. Soon after release, he 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 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, 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.