Supreme Court Orders Merging of FIRs Against YouTuber Savukku Shankar; Permits Ongoing Investigation.
The Supreme Court has ordered that several FIRs against YouTuber Savukku Shankar be combined for investigation. The main FIR, filed on May 3, 2024, at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Coimbatore, will continue to be investigated. Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar stated that while the May 3 FIR investigation goes on, evidence from other FIRs, except Crime No. 10, should be given to the officer in charge of the main case. Crime No. 10 will be handled separately.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the Tamil Nadu government, highlighted alleged inaccuracies in the petitioner’s statements. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for the CBI, argued that Shankar’s petition should be rejected due to his controversial comments about High Court judges, police, and journalists. Advocate Balaji Srinivasan, representing Shankar, informed the Court that the YouTuber had apologized for his remarks. The Bench instructed that the investigation should move forward quickly without interference in how it is conducted. The Court also stated that if the petitioner breaks any Court orders, the affected parties can seek relief from the Court. The Bench emphasized that the investigation into the May 3 FIR will continue, and evidence from other FIRs will be reviewed by the investigating officer, while Crime No. 10 will proceed on its own.
In July 2024, the Apex Court ordered the release of YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar, who had been detained under the Goondas Act by the Tamil Nadu Police in May. The court provided interim relief to Shankar, who is currently in Coimbatore Central Prison, stating it would not rule on the case’s merits since the Madras High Court is already handling it. The judges noted that lawyers for both sides would approach the chief justice or the relevant bench on Monday or Tuesday to request a faster hearing. Shankar, 48, was arrested on May 4, 2024, in Theni for making offensive comments about women police officers during a YouTube interview. He is also facing charges for possessing ganja, as reported by Theni police. In court, Shankar claimed he was attacked while in Coimbatore prison. Under the Goondas Act, a person can be held for up to a year, with their case reviewed by an advisory board, and the high court also assesses the legality of such detentions based on petitions from those affected. Shankar, known for his harsh criticism of the DMK government and Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, has faced multiple accusations of making personal attacks and inappropriate comments. Previously, in 2008, he was accused of leaking sensitive discussions among officials while working as a special assistant in the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption.
Cause Title: A Shankar @ Savukku Shankar v. State of Tamil Nadu [W.P. (Crl.) No. 340/2024; Diary No. 36201/2024]
