The Tamil Nadu government informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it had revoked the preventive detention order issued against YouTuber Savukku Shankar in connection with a drug-related case.
A bench consisting of Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra acknowledged this submission and directed that Shankar be released immediately.
“The Advisory Board has recommended revoking the detention order. Based on this, the State revoked the order today, September 25, 2024… As a result, the detenue Shankar @ Savukku Shankar should be released immediately unless required in any other case,” the Court stated according to a report by Bar & Bench.
The Court then closed the Habeas Corpus petition filed by Shankar’s mother.
The Supreme Court was hearing petitions challenging FIRs against Shankar, as well as his preventive detention under the Goondas Act by the Tamil Nadu Police.
On August 30, the Court had asked the Tamil Nadu government if the various FIRs against Shankar could be consolidated.
The latest detention order was reportedly based on accusations that Shankar was found in possession of drugs. An earlier detention order from May cited defamatory remarks allegedly made by Shankar against women during an interview with another YouTuber, Felix Jerald.
Though the High Court had ordered Shankar’s release in the earlier case, he was detained again in relation to the drug/ganja charges. FIRs were subsequently filed, prompting Shankar to seek the Supreme Court’s intervention to dismiss them.
Shankar’s mother also filed a separate Habeas Corpus petition contesting his detention.
On August 14, the Supreme Court granted interim relief to Shankar by halting any further action on the FIRs, while criticizing the DMK government in Tamil Nadu government for repeatedly detaining him.
Following the State’s submission that the preventive detention had been revoked, the Supreme Court ordered his release.
The Tamil Nadu government was represented by Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Sidharth Luthra, along with other advocates, while Shankar’s legal team included advocates Balaji Srinivasan, K Gowtham Kumar, and others.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.