Supreme Court Directs Consolidation Of FIRs Against YouTuber Savukku Shankar; Allows Investigation To Continue
The Supreme Court directed that if the petitioner violates any orders of the Court, concerned parties may approach the Court for relief.
The Supreme Court today directed that multiple FIRs filed against YouTuber Savukku Shankar be consolidated for investigation while allowing the probe to proceed in the primary FIR registered on May 3, 2024, at the Cyber Crime Police Station, Coimbatore.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar clarified that while the investigation will continue in the May 3 FIR, material and evidence from other FIRs, except for Crime No. 10, should be transferred to the investigating officer handling the primary case.
The Court also noted that Crime No. 10 will proceed independently.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the Tamil Nadu government, pointed out alleged misstatements made by the petitioner in court, while Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the CBI, argued that Shankar’s petition should be dismissed due to his controversial statements against High Court judges, police, and journalists.
Appearing for Savukku Shankar, Advocate Balaji Srinivasan informed the Court that the YouTuber had issued an unconditional apology for his remarks.
The Bench directed that the investigation should proceed expeditiously without judicial interference in its methodology. Additionally, the Court directed that if the petitioner violates any Court orders, concerned parties may approach the Court for relief.
"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," the Bench ordered.
Previously
It is to be noted that in July 2024, the Apex Court had directed release of YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar, who was detained under the Goondas Act in May by the Tamil Nadu Police. Granting the interim relief to Shankar currently lodged in the Coimbatore Central Prison, a bench had said it would not decide the case on merits as the Madras High Court is seized of the matter. The bench had recorded the submission of lawyers appearing for the parties that they will mention the matter before the chief justice of the high court or before the appropriate bench on Monday or Tuesday seeking to expedite the hearing in the matter.
Shankar, 48, was arrested by the Coimbatore Police on May 4, 2024, in southern Theni for alleged derogatory statements about women police personnel in an interview to a YouTube channel. Shankar also faces a case for possession of ganja, registered by Theni police. The YouTuber had submitted in court that he was assaulted in Coimbatore prison. A detenu under the Goondas Act may be imprisoned for one year, subject to scrutiny by an advisory board and the validity of such detentions is also examined by the high court based on petitions filed by the affected persons.
Shankar, who has been accused by a number of people of making personal attacks and uncivil remarks, is a strong critic of the DMK regime and Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. A former special assistant in the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, the YouTuber was accused in 2008 of leaking sensitive conversations between officials.
Cause Title: A Shankar @ Savukku Shankar v. State of Tamil Nadu [W.P. (Crl.) No. 340/2024; Diary No. 36201/2024]
