Madras High Courts Sets Prominent Tamil YouTuber And Anti-Corruption Voice 'Savukku' Shankar Free

The Madras High Court has granted crucial relief to Tamil YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar by overturning a detention order against him and ordering his release, provided he is not required to be detained in any other case, according to a report by The Hindu.

The decision was made by a bench comprising Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice V Sivagnanam, who were hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Shankar’s mother, A Kamala.

This development follows a recent interim relief granted by the Supreme Court, which ordered Shankar’s release from detention under the Goondas Act.

Shankar was arrested on 4 May after giving an interview to a YouTube channel in which he allegedly made derogatory comments about women police personnel in Tamil Nadu.

He was accused of stating that many female constables and sub-inspectors in Tamil Nadu were making "compromises" with senior male officers to secure favourable transfers, postings, and promotions.

Following the interview, the Cyber Crime Police in Coimbatore registered an FIR against him under Sections 294(b), 353, and 509 of the IPC, along with Section 24 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.

In addition to all of this, the YouTuber also faced allegations of possessing ganja (marijuana) at the time of his arrest by the Theni police.

Notably, this is not the first time Shankar has faced the ire of the government as he was arrested earlier also when he leaked audio recordings that exposed illegal wiretapping practices by law enforcement agencies in Tamil Nadu, leading to the resignation of a DMK minister.

Before rising to fame as a YouTuber, Shankar worked for the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). He later founded Savukku Media, which includes a web portal and a YouTube channel and emerged as a stringent campaigner against corruption in public life.