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‘Savukku’ Shankar Is No Saint, Here Are Instances When He Crossed Limits

May 16, 2024
The Commune

The arrest of Achimithu Shankar also known as ‘Savukku’ Shankar has sparked widespread debate on social media, with opinions sharply divided. One faction supports his arrest, viewing it as justified, while another claims it was a staged event orchestrated to silence criticism against the YouTuber and controversial commentator. Throughout his interviews, Shankar has been known to openly criticize many individuals, sometimes in derogatory terms, particularly targeting women, which has now become a basis for his incarceration.

As of now, Shankar is being held in the Coimbatore Central prison after being detained on 12 May 2024, under the Goondas Act. The detention order was issued by Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, Sandeep Rai Rathore, and served on Shankar by a cybercrime police inspector on the same day. The Chennai police’s central crime branch/cybercrime has reported seven cases against Shankar, with three still under investigation, charge sheets filed in two, and the rest awaiting trial, according to a police statement. His arrest on 8 May 2024 was related to alleged derogatory remarks about women police personnel made during an interview on a YouTube channel.

Felix Gerald, the head of the RedPix YouTube channel that conducted the interview with Shankar, has also been arrested as the second accused. Among the other charges against Shankar is one for possession of ganja, filed by Theni police. A detenu under the Goondas Act may be imprisoned for up to one year, with their detention subject to review by an advisory board.

Instances of Savukku’s Derogatory Remarks Towards Women

Police Women

During an interview with RedPix YouTube channel with Felix Gerald, Savukku Shankar remarked, “So he’s an IG, if a sub-inspector falls in love with him, is it because after seeing your (his) beauty?” To which Gerald replied, “Definitely, not… because of the position” Shankar then went on to say, “Wherever you go, women constables, women sub-inspectors, women DSPs love you because of your beauty? If you adjust with him, you’ll get a good post, right? Tell me why the transgender woman who worked in your house has your name tattooed on her chest. Are you such a great police officer? He’s a scoundrel!”

Women Staff In Courts

In another interview on the same RedPix YouTube channel with Felix Gerald, Savukku Shankar made derogatory comments about judges and the domestic workers employed in their households. He asserted, “All district judges with female weakness should take rest at home right. If the widows (Kaimpenn) who lost their husbands were beautiful to look at, they were appointed and they (judges) used to utilize their (Widow maids) services. You cant do anything. She can’t tell this incident outside. Another thing is that it’s convenient, you don’t have to work, can be happy and get paid”

Against Women Journalists

An award-winning freelance journalist Sandhya Ravishankar from Chennai has also lodged a formal complaint with the National Commission for Women (NCW) against ‘Savukku’ Shankar, accusing him of harassment, stalking, and defamation.

In her grievance, Sandhya alleged that Shankar had tarnished her reputation by leveling baseless accusations in an article published on 27 August 2018, on his blog ‘Savukku’ titled “Kolamaavu Sandhiya“. She clarified that she had no prior acquaintance with Shankar nor did she follow him on social media, learning about the defamatory content only after being alerted by a friend. Furthermore, she claimed that Shankar had persisted in defaming her on his Facebook pages, falsely alleging that she accepted bribes to target a mining company associated with one of Tamil Nadu’s major news channels.

Additionally, Sandhya disclosed that she had filed a complaint with the Chennai Police Commissioner in October 2018, but the investigation had stalled. Subsequently, in October 2019, she wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and received a response. Despite following through with complaints at both the Ashok Nagar and Teynampet police stations, she lamented the lack of progress. Sandhya highlighted Shankar’s history of targeting other women, including a female anchor and another journalist, indicating a pattern of abusive behavior.

Other Complaints By Women

The situation doesn’t stop there. Coimbatore Cybercrime Assistant Inspector Sukanya, another female police officer from Trichy, female DSP Yasmin from Musiri in the Trichy district, and Tamizhaga Munnetra Padai founder Veeralakshmi have lodged complaints against Savukku Shankar in a total of seven cases. These complaints accuse Shankar of spreading false information, engaging in defamation, and displaying disrespect and derogatory behavior towards women.

How He Scandalized And Traumatized A Sun TV Anchor & Advocate Mahalakshmi

Previously, in response to a court directive, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police initiated legal proceedings against Savukku Shankar, a blogger, for delving into the personal life of Mahalakshmi, a news reader for Sun TV and a lawyer who also happens to be the sister-in-law of another news anchor, Panimalar.

Mahalakshmi approached the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Egmore, seeking direction for the CCB to register a case against Panimalar and Savukku Shankar, also known as Achimuthu Shankar, who operated the ‘savukku.net’ blog. This blog had published a series of articles suggesting Mahalakshmi’s involvement in an extramarital affair with Ruban, a fellow advocate. The court obliged and directed the registration of the case. Mahalakshmi accused Panimalar of providing false information to Shankar, which he then used in the articles on Savukku.net. She further alleged that Panimalar shared the article links on her Facebook page and provided family pictures, raising concerns about potential evidence tampering as all documents were in electronic format.

In her complaint, she also stated that Savukku Shankar and others had threatened her and her brother, demanding a sum of ₹50 lakhs to remove an earlier post and to refrain from similar actions in the future. Savukku Shankar, known for authoring various derogatory articles, including ones criticizing judges with titles such as “Kanagaraj Thalaimayil Valakaringargar Adavadi” and “Irandu per Ezhu kadhal,” as well as abusing Advocate Mahalakshmi in an article titled ‘Savukku Thalam Meethu Sun TV Mahalakshmi Kaaval Thurayil Pugaar’ and “Soodhu Kavvum,” all of which targeted Mahalakshmi, her mother, and her brother. The case was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Tamil Nadu Women Harassment Act.

Between 2013 and 2014, Court ordered the blocking of Savukku Shankar’s blog. However, despite this, Shankar and his associates managed to keep their derogatory and abusive content alive masquerading them as new articles under various names and addresses. Allegedly, Shankar even operated websites registered under the names of Madras High Court judges to perpetuate such abuses. These fraudulent activities extended to defaming women judges and others.

Instances of Savukku’s Derogatory Remarks & Unsubstantiated Claims Against Police Officers

In his official X account, Savukku Shankar has made numerous claims without evidence regarding high-ranking police officers in Tamil Nadu, including those from the IPS cadre such as IGs and DIGs. By featuring images of officers like Shankar Jiwal, DGP, and Sandeep Rai Rathore, city commissioner, in his posts, he has alleged collusion between these individuals and the ruling government to facilitate financial transactions during elections.

Savukku Shankar stated, “If the Election Commission is not alert, these three will help DMK in this election to carry money in a police vehicle. Without Shame. AIADMK should also be alert. @ECISVEEP“

Savukku Shankar has claimed in one of his posts that Sandeep Rai Rathore, the city commissioner, has been receiving bribes in exchange for facilitating transfers at the inspector level. Shankar stated, “Sandeep Roy Rathore Station transfer Price List. Inspector – 5 lakhs, Assistant Commissioner – 10 lakhs. *Single fee, No discount. Those who want to switch can benefit from approaching two inspectors designated for the purpose. @chennaipolice_”

Savukku Shankar on another post, claimed that Sandeep Rai Rathore, the city commissioner, as mercenary to ruling government in Tamil Nadu “How are you going to conduct the elections fairly without replacing all these mercenary leaders who work for the ruling party figures@ECISVEEP”

 

In another post, Savukku Shankar made unsubstantiated claims about Selva Nagarathinam IPS calling him a womanizer in a derogatory manner. Shankar stated, “Can we call him as Chief Guest at the place where all the women/girls present?”

In a recent development, Savukku Shankar has directed accusations towards IPS officer Arun, suggesting that he has a tendency towards inappropriate behavior with women. Shankar’s claims in the Savukku Blog article insinuate that Arun engaged in extramarital relationships, labeling him as a womanizer with disturbing tendencies. He even tweeted, “Why @mkstalin still has kept this womanizer as Additional DGP for law and order? Is it because of the Devendra Kulam?”

Abusing Edappadi K. Palaniswami

Before 2021 elections, Shankar was acting like a DMK henchmen targeting the ADMK especially its leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami. He used to make derogatory posts about Palaniswami who was back then the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He often attacked Palaniswami’s caste background calling him as a ‘gounder’. In his blog, he abused Palaniswami as ‘Pulimootai’ (tamarind sack) Palaniswami.

In his interviews, he accused Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s administration of corruption.

He even went on to insinuate that the Kodanadu murder and burglary case was orchestrated by Palaniswami.

Shankar, once a staunch advocate for the ruling DMK government, made a notable shift after his arrest in 2022, turning into a vocal critic. A man who once abused Edappadi. K. Palaniswami in the crassest way possible, is today singing paeans and claims himself to be behind AIADMK’s strategies.

Savukku Shankar’s Previous Avatar as Periyarist & Pro-DMK Sympathizer (2020-21)

In 2020 when Shankar was a Pro-DMK sympathizer and rabble rouser against anyone who is against the DMK high command attempted to take a dig at former IPS officer K Annamalai joining the BJP, declared it as huge flop show, made an article out of it in his yellow page blog ‘savukkuonline’. Adding to that the retired Judge of the Madras High Court put out a casteist and a sexist comment about Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Facebook. In the Facebook post, former Judge of the Madras High Court had commented that Annamalai is making a route for a Rajya Sabha seat through Karnataka just like “Oorugaai Ammaiyaar” – a casteist and a sexist reference to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Brahmin and woman identity which Savukku Shankar endorsed.

Savukku Shankar’s Vehemence Against Brahmins

In 2021 Savukku Shankar, posted on his social media to commit genocide Tamil Brahmins, Taking to both Twitter and Facebook, he had written, “If it is justified to trouble Muslims today, because of how Muslim kings had troubled us in the past, then why haven’t we started troubling Brahmins for the troubles they have given us in the past?” The post was deleted from Facebook after it was reported, as it went against the platform’s community guidelines. However, it is still available on Savukku Shankar’s twitter.

In 2021, he initiated an unprovoked attack on Sridhar Vembu, the CEO of Zoho Corporation, with disparaging comments. On January 17, Savukku Shankar took to Twitter, sharing a picture purportedly depicting Sridhar Vembu’s residence in California, USA. He questioned why a person of substantial wealth, like Vembu, would abandon such luxury to reside in the modest environs of Tenkasi district, insinuating that Vembu’s lifestyle was incongruent with his means. Savukku Shankar  asked “Why would such a filthy rich Iyengar leave all this luxury & settle in Tenkasi district and lead a simpleton life?”

Shankar further alleged Vembu’s association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), branding him as ‘pure poison’. Additionally, Shankar resorted to crude language against Vembu, demanding that Vembu relinquish any properties he purportedly owned to the Tamil Nadu government. In a separate tweet, he used derogatory terms and challenged Vembu’s integrity, questioning the incongruity between his claimed simplicity and his purported expansive property in California. Shankar stated, “Hey you Moodevi (a derogatory word in Tamil). If you are such a simple man, why do you have such a big house in California? If you have the guts, try writing off the property to Tamil Nadu government”.

Savukku Shankar Called Former President Of India Ram Nath Kovind A ‘Slave Dog’

On January 2021 tweeting a picture that quoted President Ram Nath Kovind which also had an image showing the bruised back of a Sikh man, Savukku Shankar said “Is this the gratitude? You slave dog”. Savukku Shankar had indirectly implied that the Sikh man was beaten up during the siege that happened on Republic Day. However, this picture of a Sikh man with bruises on his back was was found out to be an on old one.

A user named Sikh Sagarsh had in June 2019 tweeted a Sikh auto driver along with his son were allegedly beaten in Mukherjee Nagar. This tweet of Savukku Shankar, who has a verified Twitter handle, is now being called out for two reasons – for disrespecting the President of India and for peddling fake news.

Savukku Shankar’s repeated allegations without evidence and derogatory comments about women working as professionals, including attacks on their character, have led to attract the Goondas Act. The Goondas Act is legislation designed for preventive detention, granting the State authority to incarcerate individuals without trial, aiming to thwart “harmful activities detrimental to public order.”

End Note

‘Savukku’ Shankar is no saint. While the DMK might be extracting its vengeance, Shankar had to face the law some day or the other. His own words and actions have now come back to haunt him.

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