The Madras High Court on Thursday (September 15, 2022) sentenced the rabid foul-mouthed political commentator ‘Savukku’ Shankar for contempt of court.
Shankar, who runs a blog named ‘Savukku’ also features in several Tamil YouTube channels identifying himself as a ‘senior journalist’. He is known for his abusive behaviour on social media targetting politicians, journalists, judiciary and government officials.
The self-styled ‘senior journalist and whistleblower’, had commented on Justice G.R. Swaminathan and his judgements in a number of interviews including in his own YouTube channel.
In a tweet posted on 18 July 2022, Shankar implied in his tweet that Justice GR Swaminathan had ‘met someone,’ at the Azhagar temple in Madurai in connection with the case against prominent DMK-critic Tamil YouTuber Maridhas.
அய்யா எதுவா இருந்தாலும் என் கிட்டயே கேக்கலாம். கோர்ட்டில் பேச வேண்டாம்.
மாரிதாஸ் வழக்கு விசாரிக்கும்போது, ஒரு நாள் காலை 6 மணிக்கு அழகர் கோவிலில் யாரை சந்தித்தீர்கள் ? @LiveLawIndia pic.twitter.com/KA6nAWDFnl
— Savukku Shankar (@Veera284) July 18, 2022
In the earlier order that was given by the Court to initiate contempt proceeding against Shankar, Justice G.R. Swaminathan said that Shankar’s recent tweets has ‘crossed the Lakshman Rekha’.
Justice Swaminathan noted that he was initially of the opinion that Shankar was entitled to comment on his judgements but the recent tweet had questioned his integrity which amounts to contempt of court.
In an interview to Red Pix YouTube channel he had said that the “entire higher judiciary is riddled with corruption.”
Following his tirade against Justice G.R. Swaminathan and the judiciary in general, the Madras High Court initiated suo-motu proceedings against the vile political commentator.
Earlier on 8 Septmeber 2022, Shankar filed an affidavit with a petition seeking 8 weeks time to file his reply.
In his defence, Shankar stated that his remarks “entire higher judiciary is riddled with corruption” was a statement made in the course of an interview and not part of a prepared speech.
” The words are part of a larger statement. When taken out of its context and seen as a stand-alone statement, it may seem it could have been better worded. However, when heard in context and when the circumstances in which the conversation has happened is looked at in its entirety and when the statements before and after are looked at, this Hon’ble Court will believe me when I say that the statement does not show and is not intended to show any disrespect to the Hon’ble Court nor to scandalise the Court.”, Shankar had stated in his affidavit which he has posted on his website.
‘Savukku’ Shankar has also been accused of harassment, stalking and defamation by a woman journalist in named Sandhya Ravishankar.
The self-styled ‘whistle-blower’ is a serial abuser and has spewed venom against individuals on different occassions. He had once called for a genocide against Tamil Brahmin community. He had called Hon’ble President of India Ram Nath Kovind, a ‘slave dog’. He has made several unwarrant and crass comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He had called Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as ‘Oorgai Maami’, a casteist and a sexist reference to her Brahmin and woman identity. Zoho’s CEO Sridhar Vembu was also targeted by Savukku Shankar and was subjected to consistent harassment through casteist remarks. In 2014, his website ‘Savukku Online’ was banned by the High Court for publishing defamatory articles against Sun News newsreader and lawyer Mahalakshmi. There is also a CBI case pending regarding this case.
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