The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to YouTuber Savukku Shankar, who was detained by the Chennai Police in May under the Goonda Act.
While questioning the Chennai Police’s decision to detain Shankar, the Bench of Justice Sudhansdhu Dhulia and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah directed the Madras High Court to expeditiously hear the petition challenging his preventive detention.
The Apex Court recorded in its order that the parties, including the State of Tamil Nadu, have jointly stated that they would mention the matter before the High Court to take it up on Monday.
During the course of hearing, the Bench asked Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the Tamil Nadu government, to explain the need to detain Shankar, asking whether he was a threat to the security of the nation.
The top court of the country passed the orders while hearing two petitions filed by Shankar’s mother A Kamala. One of the pleas sought transfer of the case to the Apex Court.
It said this was not an ordinary civil dispute but a preventive detention matter. Somebody’s liberty was at stake. He has been in preventive detention for over teo months, noted the Bench.
It further noted that the Madras High Court had taken liberty very carelessly.
A Division Bench of the High Court in May 2024 had delivered a split verdict on Kamala’s petition against Shankar’s continued detention.
A third judge on June 6 later said that the split verdict was an “aberration” and in breach of legal principles. Subsequently, another Division Bench of the High Court refused to hear the matter urgently.
Luthra argued that Shankar was a unique specimen, who had defamed the judiciary and made comments against the judges.
The Apex Court reolied that Shankar seem to be in depression. It observed that when the courts said that justice must not only be done but seen to be done, this should not remain just a catchphrase. The courts were prepared to take the blame.
The Bench also asked Shankar whether he can assure that he would not engage in any objectionable activity if he was given some relief.
The Bench further had a detailed discussion on whether it should hear the matter or request the High Court to urgently take up the case.
It also considered whether an interim order should be passed to release Shankar.
The Apex Court decided to release Shankar as an interim release and asked the High Court to expeditiously hear his preventive detention matter.