YouTuber Felix Jerald Today (Oct 28) moved the Delhi High Court alleging violation of his human rights by the Tamil Nadu police, which reportedly detained him illegally. Following his plea, Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri granted him time to file additional documents in support of his contention. Jerald was allegedly arrested for hosting an “objectionable” interview of another YouTuber Savukku Shankar on his YouTube channel. The interview purportedly contains objectionable remarks against the Madras High Court and the women police officers of the Tamil Nadu police. The high court listed the matter on December 16.
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NEW DELHI: Popular YouTuber and journalist Felix Jerald filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, claiming that the Tamil Nadu police unlawfully detained him, violating his fundamental human rights.
Jerald’s appeal to the court seeks justice for what he describes as an “illegal” arrest following an interview he conducted on his YouTube channel, RedPix 24×7.
Allegations of Wrongful Detention and Human Rights Violations
In response to Jerald’s claims, Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri granted him additional time to submit further documents to substantiate his allegations. Jerald asserts that he was detained by the Tamil Nadu police without due process for an interview in which another YouTuber, Savukku Shankar, allegedly made “objectionable” comments about the Madras High Court and female officers of the Tamil Nadu police force.
According to Jerald’s petition, he was held for two days without his family’s knowledge, describing this as an act carried out with an “ill motive.” He stated that there was “non-compliance of provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure” during his arrest, which he argues violated his fundamental rights.
Petition Seeking Compensation for Alleged Damages
Represented by advocates Surya Prakash and Avinash Kumar, Jerald’s plea calls for the state of Tamil Nadu and certain police officials to pay Rs 1 crore in compensation, citing
“pain, suffering, humiliation, and loss of reputation”
inflicted upon him as a result of this incident. His plea highlights that the interview, which aired on April 30, featured discussions about the alleged targeting of Shankar’s media outlet, Savukku Media, by Tamil Nadu’s ruling administration.
Four days after the interview aired, on May 4, Shankar was arrested by the Coimbatore police based on his accusations against female police officers. Jerald’s YouTube channel was subsequently implicated in an FIR.
Details of Alleged Abduction and Lack of Due Process
Jerald had planned to meet with the Press Council of India chairperson on May 11, intending to stay in Delhi for an additional two days. However, around 11 p.m. on May 10, he was-
“Unexpectedly abducted by unknown persons claiming to be from the police department of Tamil Nadu.”
Jerald’s plea reveals-
“It is learnt that they were the police personnel from Trichy Rural District, Tamil Nadu, and secured the petitioner in connection with a case of Trichy Cyber Crime Police Station, which was one of subsequently registered FIR for the same interview of April 30.”
Jerald contends that he was unaware of the FIR and his involvement in it, nor was he served with a notice under Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which would have required him to appear before the investigative agency. Further, Jerald asserts that he was not given a copy of the FIR or informed of the reasons behind his arrest.
His petition criticizes the police for failing to notify his family and for not presenting him before a court in Delhi for transit processing, nor before a local court in Trichy within the legally mandated 24 hours after his detention.
Extended Detention and Legal Battle
After being held in undisclosed conditions for a total of 66 hours, Jerald was finally brought before a court in Tiruchirappalli on May 13 at around 5 p.m., where he was remanded to police custody for 15 days.
Subsequently, on July 31, the Madras High Court granted him bail but imposed a condition that he close his YouTube channel, a decision later stayed by the Supreme Court.
Now seeking justice from the Delhi High Court, Jerald has decried his experience as “gross human rights violations” inflicted by Tamil Nadu police, and the case is scheduled for further hearing on December 16.
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