Madras High Court denied the State’s plea to cancel Savukku Shankar’s interim bail but imposed stricter conditions to prevent misuse, including a complete ban on public commentary and restricted movement. The court also ordered a fresh medical examination.
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CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday refused to cancel the interim bail granted to YouTuber-journalist Savukku Shankar but imposed stricter conditions amid allegations of bail violation and public commentary on pending criminal cases. The decision came in the case State of Tamil Nadu vs A. Kamala, where the court emphasized the need to balance individual liberty with the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
A Bench of Justices P. Velmurugan and M. Jothiraman ruled that:
- Bail will not be cancelled at this stage
- Strict restrictions will be imposed to prevent misuse of liberty and ensure the investigation remains unhindered
The Court modified bail terms with the following conditions:
The Court issued a complete prohibition on any public commentary by Shankar about the pending criminal case, the complainant, the investigating officer, or the manner of investigation. This restraint applies across all platforms, including social media, electronic media, print media, and any other public forum.
The Court also barred Shankar from contacting or communicating with co-accused or witnesses, whether directly or through third parties, and directed that he must not attempt to influence, intimidate, or interfere with them in any manner.
Additionally, his movement has been restricted strictly to medical treatment and legal consultation, with a clear warning that any violation may lead to cancellation of interim bail without further reference to the Court.
The Court directed the Dean of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, to form a specialised medical board to examine Shankar’s medical condition.
- Shankar must appear before the medical board on February 2 at 8 AM
- The board must submit a sealed report by March 3
The Court made it clear that:
“The directions are issued without expressing any opinion on the merits of the pending criminal case, the revision petition, or the habeas corpus petition.”
The Court stressed that:
- Video journalists must follow high ethical standards
- Public trust and credibility must be preserved
- Misinformation in the digital age is a serious concern
Background
Savukku Shankar was granted interim bail in December 2025 on humanitarian grounds, given his deteriorating medical condition and the repeated curtailment of his liberty due to multiple criminal cases. However, the State later moved to cancel his bail, alleging that he continued to make public statements and online content about the pending investigation, violating bail terms.
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Earlier, on Thursday, the Madras High Court strongly reprimanded Savukku Shankar’s lawyer for making allegations of judicial bias during the hearing on the cancellation of his interim bail. A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan took serious exception to the counsel’s remarks suggesting bias by Justice P. Velmurugan.
The Court made it clear that such baseless accusations against judges are unacceptable and warned that court proceedings cannot be misused to target the judiciary. The Division Bench emphasized that allegations of bias without substantiation undermine the dignity of the judicial system and will not be tolerated.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on YouTuber Savukku Shankar