Today(25th Sept),The Tamil Nadu government informed the Supreme Court that it has revoked the preventive detention order against YouTuber Savukku Shankar related to a drugs case. The court ordered his immediate release, stating the Advisory Board recommended revoking the detention order.
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NEW DELHI: Today(25th Sept), The Tamil Nadu government informed the Supreme Court that it has officially revoked the preventive detention order issued against YouTuber Savukku Shankar in connection with a drugs case.
The Supreme Court Bench, comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, took note of this submission and ordered the immediate release of Shankar.
“The Advisory Board has recommended the revocation of the contested detention order. Following this recommendation, the State has officially revoked the detention order today, September 25, 2024. Consequently, the detenue, Shankar @ Savukku Shankar, shall be released immediately, unless he is needed in any other case.”
-stated the Bench in its order, clearing the way for his immediate release.
This decision follows a series of legal challenges brought forward by Savukku Shankar, who had been detained under the Goondas Act by the Tamil Nadu Police. His preventive detention was based on multiple allegations, including accusations related to defamatory comments and more recently, drugs being found in his possession. However, after several legal battles, including a Habeas Corpus petition filed by Shankar’s mother, the Supreme Court has now ordered his release.
The case garnered national attention after Shankar, known for his outspoken views on social and political issues, was detained multiple times by the Tamil Nadu Police. Initially, the state detained him under the Goondas Act in May, citing, among other reasons, defamatory statements allegedly made against women during an interview he had given to fellow YouTuber Felix Jerald. While Shankar managed to secure his release from the Madras High Court following this detention, the State quickly issued a fresh preventive detention order, this time linking him to allegations of drug possession.
The legal tug-of-war continued when fresh First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against Shankar, forcing him to approach the Supreme Court to quash these FIRs. His mother also filed a separate Habeas Corpus petition challenging the new detention order. The Supreme Court on August 14 granted Shankar interim relief by staying any coercive action related to these FIRs. It had also criticized the Tamil Nadu government for what it perceived as repeated and unwarranted detention.
On August 30, the Supreme Court questioned the Tamil Nadu government regarding the multiple FIRs filed against the YouTuber, asking whether these cases could be clubbed together. This led to discussions on whether the state’s actions were a form of targeted harassment against Shankar, who has been a vocal critic of the government.
Reports suggest that the latest detention order against Shankar was issued based on allegations that drugs were found in his possession. However, the defense team argued that the charges were baseless and aimed at silencing the YouTuber, who has made several controversial statements and critiques of the Tamil Nadu administration in the past.
Previously, his May detention was linked to an interview where he allegedly made defamatory comments against women. However, after successfully challenging that detention, Shankar was again apprehended in relation to the drugs/ganja case. His legal team, led by advocates Balaji Srinivasan, K Gowtham Kumar, Harsha Tripathi, Balamurugan, Ayyaparaj, and S Gopalakrishnan, has consistently maintained that the charges were politically motivated and unfounded.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court remained critical of the state’s decision to repeatedly detain Shankar, questioning the basis for these actions. The Bench on multiple occasions expressed its concerns over the repeated use of preventive detention as a means to detain individuals without sufficient evidence.
The Court’s order for immediate release came after the Tamil Nadu government admitted that the Advisory Board had recommended the revocation of the detention order.
“The Advisory Board has opined that the impugned order of detention be revoked,”
-said the Bench.
Following this recommendation, the state acted accordingly and revoked Shankar’s detention on September 25, 2024.
With the preventive detention now officially revoked, the Court stated-
“Therefore, detenue Shankar @ Savukku Shankar shall be released immediately, unless he is needed for any other case.”
This clears Shankar from further detention, unless he is implicated in any other pending legal matters.
- In the case, the Tamil Nadu government was represented by an esteemed legal team consisting of Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Sidharth Luthra, along with advocates D Kumanan, Deepa S, Sheikh F Kalia, Veshal Tyagi, and Chinmay Anand Panigrahi.
- On the other hand, Savukku Shankar’s legal representation comprised advocates Balaji Srinivasan, K Gowtham Kumar, Harsha Tripathi, Balamurugan, Ayyaparaj, and S Gopalakrishnan, who worked tirelessly to secure his release.
