The Supreme Court stated that if the petitioner breaches any court orders, the concerned parties are free to seek relief from the Court.
NEW DELHI: Today, 24th Feb, The Supreme Court of India directed that all First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against YouTuber Savukku Shankar be combined for investigation. However, the investigation in the main FIR, which was registered on May 3, 2024, at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Coimbatore, will continue separately.
The Bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, clarified that while the May 3 FIR investigation will go on, evidence and materials from other FIRs—except for Crime No. 10—should be transferred to the officer handling the main case.
The Supreme Court also stated that Crime No. 10 would be investigated separately. Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the Tamil Nadu government, alleged that the petitioner made false statements in court.
Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), argued that Shankar’s petition should be dismissed due to his controversial remarks against judges of the High Court, the police, and journalists.
Advocate Balaji Srinivasan, representing Savukku Shankar, informed the court that the YouTuber had issued an unconditional apology for his comments. The Supreme Court directed that the investigation should proceed quickly and without interference in its process. The Bench also ruled that if Shankar disobeys any court orders, concerned parties can approach the court for necessary action.
The court ordered:
“Investigation to continue in FIR of 3 May 2024 at Cyber Crime Coimbatore police station; investigation in the following FIRs—except crime no.10—shall be transferred to the police station, Cyber Crime, Coimbatore City; investigation shall proceed expeditiously. We are not commenting on the manner in which the investigation is to be conducted….material and evidence collected in course of the investigation of the said FIRs will be examined by the IO of the FIR dated May 3…investigation for crime no. 10 will continue as it is. In case petitioner commits breach of any of the orders, it is open to the parties to approach the court.”
In July 2024, the Supreme Court granted interim relief to Shankar, who was detained under the Goondas Act by the Tamil Nadu Police in May. The Apex Court had ordered his release from Coimbatore Central Prison but had stated that it would not examine the case’s merits, as the matter was already before the Madras High Court.
The court recorded the submissions of lawyers and allowed them to mention the matter before the Chief Justice of the High Court or the appropriate bench for an expedited hearing.
Background
Savukku Shankar, aged 48, was arrested on May 4, 2024, by Coimbatore Police in southern Theni. The arrest was related to alleged derogatory statements made about women police officers in a YouTube interview. Additionally, a case was filed against him by Theni Police for possessing ganja. During court proceedings, Shankar claimed that he was assaulted while in Coimbatore prison.
ALSO READ: Madras HC Quashes Detention of YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar Under The Goondas Act
Under the Goondas Act, a person can be detained for up to one year. However, such detentions must be reviewed by an advisory board, and the High Court has the authority to examine the validity of these detentions if a petition is filed by the affected individual.
Shankar has been accused of making personal attacks and harsh remarks against several individuals. He is a well-known critic of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
Before becoming a YouTuber, he worked as a special assistant in the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption. In 2008, he was accused of leaking confidential conversations between government officials.
