In yet another case of clampdown on dissent in Tamil Nadu, popular YouTuber Maridhas was arrested by the DMK government on Friday after he released videos criticizing the ruling regime’s role in the stampede at TVK leader Vijay’s rally in Karur, which claimed the lives of 41 people.

Police claimed the video carried “misleading and false statements” about the tragedy and booked him under multiple sections of the IPC and IT Act. He was arrested from his residence in Chennai’s Neelankarai suburb and taken into custody.

Maridhas has consistently taken on both sides — slamming the TVK for its recklessness and accusing the DMK government of failure and even of attempting to sabotage Vijay’s political rise.

In one video, Maridhas had raised suspicions about DMK leader Senthil Balaji since Karur is his stronghold.

“For stampede to happen, there needs to be a confusion in the crowd and a fear induced because of that. If this happens naturally, it is an accident. But if someone tries to create such a situation artificially in a crowd which the politicians are very much capable of, and that too when you go to Karur.. today if there is one person in Tamil Nadu who is very close and is the right hand man for Stalin, it is Senthil Balaji. Senthil Balaji gang is the one which is collecting money per bottle and giving it to DMK family. If Vijay is going to Senthil Balaji’s bastion of Karur, on one hand he is a powerful minister and Senthil Balaji is a big ‘Ammavaasai’ (a cunning politician). If you prepare a list of politicians who would do politics on anything and go to any extent, he will be at number one position. Such a politician who would do anything, with high criminality, and someone close to the ruling family being their right hand.. if Vijay is going there, you should have the sharpness to gauge the conspiracy. Who should have such sharpness? The commission that is investigating.“, said Maridhas.

He further said that TVK members are raising valid questions and went on to point out three things that hint at a conspiracy. He mentioned:

1) An ambulance that kept doing rounds and Sun TV jumping in to putting bytes of the ambulance driver about the crowd not letting the ambulance go

2) Sun TV’s another byte of a person who is supposedly close to Senthil Balaji as seen from his social media

3) Powercut that happened during the rally which the Aruna Jagadeesan commission set up by the DMK government to probe the stampede, had tried to dismiss

Maridhas had also taken aim at the Aruna Jegadeesan Commission arguing that it was not moving in the right direction and appeared to be nothing more than a facade to cover up the real failures of the DMK government. He further went on to make allegations against the ruling DMK government and blamed it for the loss of 41 lives.

Further on 4 October 2025, Maridhas had posted on his social media about exposing the “entire drama staged by the DMK gang in court”.

This video had gone viral on social media triggering action from the DMK government as MK Stalin himself had put a video message saying that strict legal action will be taken on those who make defamatory remarks in social media.

“10 Ruba Balaji.. What was the trick that happened in court against Vijay? – At 6 PM today.”, Maridhas had posted on X.

இன்று மாலை: நீதிமன்றத்தில் திமுக கும்பல் நடத்திய மொத்த நாடகத்தின் விவரம் வீடியோவாக வெளியிடப்படும்.

10ரூபா பாலாஜி..
விஜய் எதிராக நீதிமன்றத்தில் நடந்த தந்திரம் என்ன – மாலை 6 மணிக்கு..

— Maridhas (@MaridhasAnswers) October 4, 2025

At 1 PM, Maridhas had posted that police have arrived at his house.

என் இல்லத்திற்கு காவல்துறை கைது செய்ய வந்துள்ளது.

— Maridhas (@MaridhasAnswers) October 4, 2025

The DMK government has arrested Maridhas despite multiple judgements that arrests should not be made for social media utterances.

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The post DMK Govt Arrests YouTuber Maridhas For Video On Karur TVK Stampede appeared first on The Commune.

Sameer MD is a Kannada YouTuber from Bengaluru, now known for his investigative content that tackles sensitive social and criminal issues. He operates the channel “Dhootha” (meaning “messenger” in Kannada) and lives in Bengaluru and also maintains a residence in Bellary.

His channel was launched in August 2024. Till date, he has posted 20 videos.

The YouTuber’s claim to fame is the 39-minute video on a 2012 alleged rape and murder of a 17-year-old second PU student, Soujanya, who was studying at the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College.

The Soujanya case itself had a complex history. Soujanya, a 17-year-old Pre-University student, went missing on 9 October 2012 while returning from college. Her body was found the following day, showing evidence of assault. Initially investigated by local police and later the CID, the case saw multiple suspects before the CBI took over in 2013. After years of investigation, Santhosh Rao, the prime suspect, was acquitted by the CBI special court in June 2023 due to insufficient evidence. The High Court rejected pleas for reinvestigation in 2024. Soujanya’s father, Chandappa Gowda, passed away in January 2024 without seeing justice for his daughter.

Soujanya Murder Case Video

Sometime in February end 2025, Sameer MD, through his YouTube channel Dhootha, posted a video titled “Dharmasthala Soujanya Case” which gained over 18 million views. The video revisited “decades of crimes” in Dharmasthala, focusing on the 2012 rape and murder of Soujanya, the wrongful conviction of Santhosh Rao, and alleged influence in investigations.

On 5 March 2025, Cowl Bazaar police filed an FIR against the video, citing that it hurt religious sentiments. Advocate A. Velan, representing Sameer, argued the FIR was misuse of law and violated free expression.

A writers’ convention scheduled for 9 March 2025 at the Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) in Bengaluru was cancelled after the organisers received legal notices. The event was planned to demand justice for Sowjanya, a teenager raped and murdered in 2012, and to protest an FIR against YouTuber Sameer MD for his video on the case. The KSP withdrew permission, stating it only hosts literary events, not controversial or sub-judice matters.

Several YouTubers also tried to push the same lies he was pushing which framed the Dharmadhikari family, but all the videos had to be removed from YouTube.

Sameer didn’t stop there. He continued to peddle more lies through his AI-generated videos to keep targeting the Jain family. His modus operandi is to use AI to create visuals and present details that far exceeded the official complaints and court records.

Dharmasthala Mass Burial Video 

This video was published in July 2025. It is a 23-minute video titled “Who Are Serial K!llrs of Dharmasthala?”, which gathered over 7.8 million views as of today. Following this AI-generated video which also had provocative content, FIR was registered under Sections 192 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 240 (false information), and 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief). The Police alleged the video contained AI-generated content with fabricated details beyond the official complaint, revealing protected witness identities. Sameer faced legal notices demanding his appearance before Belthangady police in connection with the video.

This video centers on the allegations made by the masked man who alleges he was forced to secretly bury – Sameer went on to state that “over 1,000 bodies were buried on the orders of his supervisors”, with the complicity of local police paid off by the temple’s management. The video claims most victims were women and underage girls who were raped and murdered, their bodies found in temple lodges.

A specific, graphic allegation is made regarding the disposal of the body of Soujanya, a previous rape and murder case victim, and the mysterious death of a key witness, Ravi Poojari.

He claimed these burials were done with police connivance.

The video is presented not as an allegation but as established fact, using highly emotional and provocative language (e.g., “Shiva Tandava,” “final war”). It directly accuses the temple head, Veerendra Heggade, and his family of being behind a vast criminal conspiracy of murder and cover-up.

Sameer narrates the entire “story” as if he had seen it happen in front of his eyes. Too many unverified claims, too many lies, and a cinematic and concocted story – this is basically what the video is all about. The language is deliberately inflammatory, designed to provoke outrage. He also calls for street protests saying, “You have to come to the streets and protest against this injustice. Everyone should raise their voice and if any scoundrel comes in between and tries to create Hindu-Muslim divide, beat that son of b**** with slippers.”

Ananya Bhat Video

When the Ananya Bhat story surfaced, he came up with an AI-generated video where he recounted the alleged disappearance case, presenting it as another tragic incident linked to Dharmasthala, similar to the Soujanya case. He stated that Ananya, a first-year MBBS student at Manipal Medical College, had visited the Dharmasthala temple with her hostel friends. He claimed that her friends had asked her to wait at the temple while they returned to their hostel to collect clothes, but upon their return, she had vanished without a trace. Sameer stated that the friends immediately informed Ananya’s mother, Sujatha, a single woman working in Kolkata, who then rushed to Dharmasthala. He alleged that despite Sujatha’s efforts, she found no clues about her daughter’s disappearance. When she tried to file a missing complaint at the local police station, he asserted that the police dismissed her concerns and sent her away. He further made the grave accusation that when Sujatha approached a female temple official for help, the official instead had her brutally beaten and locked in a godown, leaving her in a coma for three months. Upon awakening, Sameer claimed, Sujatha lost all hope of ever finding justice for her daughter.

However, these claims have been entirely discredited when Sujatha Bhat herself confessed that she had never had a daughter named Ananya, exposing the narrative as a complete fabrication.

Anticipatory Bail And Arrest Notices (August 2025)

On 20 August 2025, police attempted to arrest Sameer at his Bengaluru residence, but he was missing. He obtained anticipatory bail from a Mangaluru court on 21 August 2025 and was directed to cooperate with the SIT investigation. He appeared before Belthangady police on 24 August 2025 with a legal team, complying with instructions to refrain from making inflammatory statements. But the look on his face seems like he was on a picnic.

Scoundrel MD Sameer must be arrested for his role in amplifying fake propaganda against Dharmasthala

Just see his body language, so cocky and undeterred despite his fakery being busted to smithereens pic.twitter.com/CyuhL8ieGO

— Sameer (@BesuraTaansane) August 24, 2025

Earlier, Sameer faced a ₹10 crore defamation suit filed by Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala representatives, alleging deliberate targeting over the unsolved 2008 college student murder case.
He is accused alongside activists Mahesh Shetty Thimarody and Girish Mattannavar in a separate case concerning the assault on three YouTubers and a cameraman at Ujire on 6 August 2025.

Sameer Must Be Treated As Co-Conspirator

Sameer’s videos present imaginary stories with a little bit of truth as if the entire details he talks about are facts – without providing a single piece of corroborating evidence. There are no dates, no official police records referenced, no medical reports about the alleged coma, and no independent verification of any events described.

The language he uses in his videos are deliberately designed to bypass critical thinking and provoke a raw emotional response. Phrases like “you will really cry,” and the repeated focus on a mother’s suffering are used as a substitute for factual storytelling.

He has always been seen to shift the burden of proof and would cite other YouTubers as his sources. He would avoid the responsibility of providing evidence by redirecting the audience to another YouTube video. This creates an echo chamber of unverified claims rather than establishing a foundation of truth.

Now that the entire saga has crumbled like potato chips, will Sameer atleast apologise?

Sameer’s videos are a prime example of how misinformation was weaponized in the broader campaign against Dharmasthala and how he played a central role in tarnishing the sanctity of the institution.

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The post Exposing Sameer MD, The YouTuber Who Is Under Investigation For The Dharmasthala Fake Mass Burial Conspiracy appeared first on The Commune.

In what can be seen as a coordinated attack on Justice GR Swaminathan, the latest to join the bandwagon in the DMK ecosystem are two faces, known for their vitriol and nonsense – drug case accused and ex-DMK office bearer drug lord Jaffer Sadiq’s best friend, Ameer Sultan and rabid anti-Hindu YouTuber U2 Brutus.

Drug Case Accused Ameer Sultan

Ameer has been embroiled in a drug trafficking after getting chargesheeted and summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in the money laundering investigation linked to drug trafficking activities. He joins the DMK ecosystem to bash and slander Justice GR Swaminathan in the case involving Dravidianist lawyer Vanchinathan.

In a book launch event, he said, “Today, former judges have issued a joint statement against the fascist war waged against Advocate Vanchinathan by the Chief Justice of the High Court in Madurai. My brother Kolathur Mani has also recorded his condemnation, and I am also recording mine”

Ameer’s most direct and derogatory remarks came while addressing Justice Swaminathan’s judicial conduct and ideological leanings. He said, “As someone who knows the judge well, he has always spoken in support of Sanatana. When the fact that he has written his judgments in support of Sanatana, the letter was sent to the Supreme Court judge in a sealed envelope, how he (GR Swaminathan) got it, is a matter that needs to be investigated.”

The speech repeatedly characterized Justice Swaminathan’s actions as part of a “fascist war” against Vanchinathan, who is currently facing criminal contempt proceedings. Ameer described the judiciary’s conduct as, “Condemnable… to call Comrade Vanchinathan and talk to him in a threatening manner.”

This insinuation of impropriety and ideological partisanship was followed by a veiled threat, “Although the power to write the verdict is in your hands, the power to rewrite your verdicts is in our hands. I remind the Justice that it is the duty of all of us to stand by Comrade Vanchinathan, no matter how many objections come.”

Rabid Anti-Hindu YouTuber U2 Brutus

U2 Brutus is a YouTube channel run by a person who identifies himself as ‘Minor’, a follower of EV Ramaswamy Naicker (known as Periyar by his followers). The channel is known for supporting the DMK and its allied outfits like Dravida Kazhagam, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, etc. In 2022, the channel released a video titled “This is the reason why Nataraja stands with his leg lifted“, in which ‘Minor’ resorts to slandering Hindu God Siva and Goddess Kaali. In the video, he also slandered the Dikshitars, the traditional priests of the Chidambaram Natarajar Temple.

Speaking at an event on Media skills development conducted by United Muslim Progress Party, this Dravidianist “Minor Veeramani(?)” insinuates that Justice GR Swaminathan was “investigating” a matter in which the judge is the aggrieved party and then stretches the analogy to a grotesque comparison meant to delegitimize the court. He also lards the speech with anti‑Hindu/Brahmin slurs and mockery of RSS supporters, framing the media as “slaves of Aryan Brahminism.”

He talked about how to use devices and social media apps as “weapons”. The event topic was supposedly “social media is a weapon for the common man”.

He first began by justifying why EVR was against “God”. He said, “Why did Periyar say that there is no God? He was against untouchability. Why did he oppose it? Where does untouchability come from? It comes from caste. That is why he opposes caste. Where does caste come from? That system called caste comes from the religion called Hindu. Where does this Hindu religion come from? It comes from the temple. Where does the temple come from? It comes from God. So, apart from opposing God, there is no slander between God and Periyar.”

Praising the Dravidianist lawyer Vanchinathan, he said, “I am a common man, not a lawyer or legal expert. But Advocate Vanchinathan of Madurai is a senior advocate in the High Court and a revolutionary legal voice who consistently stands up for the people. He has taken up cases that others shy away from. When two Muslims were arrested by the NIA in Madurai, and concerns arose among Islamic organizations, it was Advocate Vanchinathan who stepped forward, turning a legal matter into a broader social struggle. He was also the first to raise the alarm on the Thiruparankundram issue, filing a case to prevent infiltration by BJP and RSS elements. Vanchinathan has been a constant presence in the Madurai courts, opposing communal and authoritarian forces that threaten public interest. Even in the matter of the “All Castes Can Become Archakas” scheme, where problems surfaced, such as in the Vayalur Murugan temple, it was Advocate Vanchinathan who took these issues to court, standing firm in defence of social justice. He is not just a lawyer, he is a vital legal activist who uses the court to fight for the marginalized and hold power to account.”

Then he goes on to introduce Justice GR Swaminathan. Very mockingly, he says, “An important judge of the Madurai High Court, a social justice fighter who has given many historic judgements and is known to be a neutral judge, GR Swaminathan, why are you laughing? I ask you, why are you laughing? I don’t understand. Why are you making jokes? You really have to believe that he is a neutral judge. If you don’t believe in this, they will put a condemnation of court on us like what happened to lawyer Vanchinathan. He has a condemnation of court case.”

Next he goes on to mock the case. He said, “GR Swaminathan filed a case against Vanchinathan. What is the case against me? I write caste-based judgments. I act caste-based in the courts. This lawyer is pointing to ulterior motives, GR Swaminathan says that about advocate Vanchinathan. Neutral judge GR Swaminathan is filing a case against Vanchinathan. Vanchinathan appeared in this case. Do you know who is investigating this? The same GR who filed the complaint is investigating Swaminathan.”

Then he compares the case to a scene from Tamil films where village panchayat is shown and equates it to a situation where the rape accused is made to sit as a judge for the issue.  He said, “Now, if we see a scene where the person who raped the child is investigating the case, would we all laugh or not? … You are the one who is accusing me. How can you investigate and write a verdict yourself?” 

He then tries to blame “mainstream media” for not raising an issue on this and that it would bite people like him later. Then he explains who such a stance helps. He makes casteist slurs against the so-called mainstream media (and, by extension, Hindus/Brahmins), saying, “You will never be my voice. You will always be a slave and a slave of the Aryan Brahminism. That is why we turned to social media and raised our voices.” 

Later, taking the opportunity to hit below the belt, he said, “Do you know what I really like? This RSS members, Paarpaan, the one who supports this Brahminism, the one who celebrates caste – I really love doing a hit job on them. I like that very much. I like it very much.

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The post Drug Case Accused Ameer Sultan And Rabid Anti-Hindu YouTuber Attack Justice GR Swaminathan appeared first on The Commune.

As expected, several Dravidianist propagandists and DMK-supporting YouTubers have quickly mobilized to shift the narrative surrounding the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir—where Hindus were specifically targeted. Instead of acknowledging the religiously motivated nature of the attack, these content creators have focused their criticism on the BJP-led central government, blaming Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the security lapse.

What’s even more disturbing is the way these YouTubers rushed to downplay the clear anti-Hindu motives behind the attack. Despite reports that the terrorists declared a ‘jihad,’ demanded victims recite the kalma, and stripped tourists to identify their religion—deliberately targeting Hindus—these Dravidianist influencers have shown a shocking reluctance to acknowledge the facts. Their apparent goal? To preserve the minority Muslim vote bank and stay in favor with their political patron, the DMK.

One notable example is Senthil Vel, who runs the Tamil Kelvi YouTube channel and former anchor for the Tamil news outlet Maalai Murasu. He controversially questioned why those calling the Pahalgam terrorists “Muslims” don’t also label espionage suspects arrested in India as “Hindus.” Another channel, Arakalagam, echoed this exact sentiment, further fueling confusion and deflection.

Many viewers were left baffled by the false equivalence between terrorist acts and espionage cases, but these influencers appeared more interested in reinforcing the DMK’s narrative than addressing the seriousness of the attack. Senthil Vel even went a step further by emphasizing that those arrested in espionage cases were not only Hindus but also Brahmins—exposing the deeply rooted caste-based animosity often associated with hardline Dravidianist rhetoric.

These reactions have sparked outrage and concern among the public, who see them as a blatant attempt to politicize a tragedy and shield religiously motivated violence from scrutiny.

As the video opens, Senthil Vel, a self-styled Dravidianist journalist, dives into a dramatic monologue, promising to deliver a “hard-hitting exposé” on alleged links between terrorists and BJP members. With a fiery tone, he declares, “Before we dive into this video. Today, I’m going to reveal the supposed connections between terrorists and BJP executives—with proof. So, these so-called ‘fake patriots’ run away. 25 citizens have been sacrificed due to terrorism. We’ve all spoken out in anger against terrorism, and I too condemn the Pahalgam terror attack. But let me be clear—the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Defence Minister are directly responsible. They must resign. I’m accusing them that they are weak and going to criticize them even more. I’m not here to bluff anything. I’m going to show the links between terrorists and BJP members, explain in detail who were all arrested. Enough of sacrificing innocent lives for dirty politics. And now, certain groups are shamelessly pushing anti-Muslim hashtags online. What injustice!”

Despite this intense introduction, the video quickly derails. Like many Congress and Dravidianist social media figures, Senthil Vel attempts to argue that “terrorism has no religion.” But his core argument is built on flawed comparisons—equating espionage cases involving Hindu individuals with religiously motivated terror attacks carried out by Islamist groups, particularly from Pakistan. The logic doesn’t hold up, and rather than proving a point, it reveals a poor understanding of the fundamental differences between espionage and terrorism.

Worse still, he makes a blatantly casteist remark, implying that many involved in such activities are Brahmins, “Most of them are the ones who say, ‘We are born with brains, we are intelligent.’ They are half of it. I don’t want to say more.” This thinly veiled jab reflects a deep-rooted bias that frequently surfaces in Dravidianist discourse.

Senthil Vel attempts to further his argument by presenting a list of alleged “Hindu terrorists,” the first case he cites involves a July 2024 news report, initially promoted by Congress & AAP sympathizer Dhruv Rathee who was widely known for his partisan, left-leaning propaganda.

According to the report from NDTV, Talib Hussain Shah, a wanted Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist captured in Jammu and Kashmir, was affiliated with the BJP’s Minority Morcha and handled their social media in Jammu. However, the timeline and context were misrepresented. The incident wasn’t recent, and more importantly, the accused was a Muslim, contradicting Senthil Vel’s attempt to show Hindus in the same light. This visibly confused him mid-video, and rather than correcting the inconsistency, he scrambled to deflect blame back onto the BJP—accusing the party of giving space to terrorists. The irony was glaring.

Senthil Vel then cited another post—this time from Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, a propagandist frequently accused of spreading misleading or partisan narratives favoring Congress and its allies like the DMK, TMC, and others. Referring to content published by Alt News, Senthil Vel claimed that a BJP IT Cell member, Dhruv Saxena, along with 10 others, had been arrested for allegedly assisting Pakistan’s ISI in spying on the Indian Army.

He presented this as a major embarrassment for the BJP. However, what was more questionable than the allegation itself was the near-total silence from mainstream media outlets on the matter—only Alt News had reported it prominently, raising concerns about the credibility and selective amplification of such stories. This, in fact, was a point of contention that had already been heavily pushed by Congress and its ecosystem. Despite his attempt to frame it as a significant expose, the reliance on a single, politically biased source and the lack of broader media coverage casts serious doubt on the narrative being promoted.

Continuing his attempt to tie terrorism to the BJP, Dravidianist YouTuber Senthil Vel brought up the much-discussed case of journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik’s controversial meeting with terrorist mastermind Hafiz Saeed. The meeting, which triggered uproar in Parliament at the time, was politicized further by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who remarked, “The man is from the RSS. That’s a known fact. We want to know if the Indian embassy facilitated this meeting.”

However, the facts were different. Ved Pratap Vaidik met Saeed as a journalist, risking his safety for an interview. Much like Tamil journalist Nakkeeran Gopal—who once interviewed the dreaded bandit Veerappan and has long been a known DMK supporter—Vaidik’s meeting was more journalistic than ideological. Yet, unlike Vaidik, Gopal was never accused or vilified; in fact, he was even utilized by the Tamil Nadu government. Journalists, at times, pursue uncomfortable truths. But Senthil Vel seemed more interested in pushing a narrative rather than evaluating the facts.

He also listed a series of espionage-related arrests, wrongly labeling them as evidence of “Hindu terrorism,” failing to distinguish between acts of spying and religiously motivated terror. Here are some of the cases he cited:

• Pradeep Kurulkar (DRDO scientist): Arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive information to Pakistan. Congress claimed he had longstanding ties with the RSS and came from a family associated with the Sangh for generations. [Reported by Economic Times]

• Mahesh Kumar (MES employee): Allegedly honey-trapped by a Pakistani military agent via Facebook and arrested in Haryana. [India Today]

• Deepak Shirsath (HAL employee): Accused of sharing confidential fighter jet details with Pakistan’s ISI via WhatsApp and social media. [NDTV]

• Rajeev Sharma (Journalist): Arrested for passing information to Chinese agents. A Chinese woman and a Nepalese man were also detained in connection with the case. [The Hindu]

• Madhuri Gupta (Ex-Diplomat): Convicted and sentenced to three years in jail for spying for Pakistan during her tenure at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. [The Hindu]

• Indian Navy Honeytrap Case: Thirteen naval personnel apprehended for espionage involving suspected social media contacts with Pakistani operatives. [India Today]

• ISI Agent Trail – Gujarat/UP: An ISI-linked agent, Rajaka Khumbhar, was arrested by NIA in Gujarat. A money trail of Rs 5,000 led to a contact in Uttar Pradesh. The case involved sensitive information leaks traced back to a man named Mohammad Rashid. [TOI]

• BSF Jawan in Smuggling Racket: Sumit Kumar, a BSF constable, was arrested as the alleged kingpin in a Pakistan-linked arms and heroin smuggling ring. Weapons bearing Pakistan Ordinance Factory markings and Rs 32.3 lakh in drug money were seized. [TOI]

While espionage is undoubtedly a national security threat, Senthil Vel’s attempt to equate these cases with terrorism driven by religious ideology is a false equivalence. Terrorism—especially incidents like the Pahalgam attack targeting Hindus—is fundamentally different from cases of spying or smuggling.

What was meant to be a bold exposé quickly unraveled into a confused, misinformed rant riddled with contradictions, caste-based jabs, and selective outrage. Senthil Vel’s attempt to push a politically convenient narrative only exposed the fragility of the argument and the desperation to defend an increasingly indefensible position.

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The post DMK-Supporting Dravidianist YouTubers Blame Modi Govt To Give Clean Chit To Pakistani Terrorists appeared first on The Commune.

A recent viral video featuring a foreign tourist at a TASMAC liquor outlet in Chennai has reignited public scrutiny over pricing irregularities and operational transparency under the supervision of the Prohibition and Excise Department headed by Senthil Balaji. The video, which captures a tourist being charged ₹180 for a beer with an MRP of ₹140, has stirred debate over long-standing complaints of overcharging at Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) retail outlets.

In the video, the tourist, accompanied by a long-time Singaporean resident of India, inquires about the MRP of beer and is casually told by the staff that prices are ₹20–₹40 above the legal maximum. The casual admission of the markup, captured on camera, corroborates with the allegations against Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Minister Senthil Balaji.

When inquiring about beer, the Singaporean who spoke Tamil, was quoted ₹180 per bottle despite confirming the MRP should be lesser around ₹140. The transaction was completed without explanation for the 12.5% markup. Similarly, a bottle of whiskey was sold for ₹1,300.

When questioned why the price was not MRP, the employee says that since the bar is attached to the outlet, he cannot sell it for MRP (weird logic).

இன்று அணில் பாலாஜி துறை பற்றிய விவாதம்.டாஸ்மாக் ஊழல் பற்றி பேச எடப்பாடியாருக்கு அனுமதி இல்லை.
இந்தியாவை சுற்றி பார்க்க வந்த வெள்ளைக்காரன் சென்னை டாஸ்மாக்கில் பீர் வாங்க சென்று MRP இல்லையா என்று கேட்க. இல்லை MRP மேல் ரூ 20 விலை சொன்ன ஊழியர். @EPSTamilNadu#அசிங்கப்பட்ட_திமுக pic.twitter.com/u7SK6dkJCl

— Kovai Sathyan (@KovaiSathyan) April 22, 2025

TASMAC is the state government monopoly for liquor sales in Tamil Nadu, operated under the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) government’s “Dravidian Model” of governance. Most often, if not at all times, notably absent from the establishment are displayed price lists, a requirement under consumer protection guidelines. The staff’s casual acknowledgment of the inflated pricing suggests this may represent standard practice at the location. “It’s a bit dodgy here,” Lim remarked in the video after completing his purchase, highlighting the lack of transparency.

TASMAC Controversies

In March 2025, TASMAC in Tamil Nadu came under intense scrutiny after multiple videos exposed rampant overcharging at the liquor outlets. Despite ongoing ED investigations into a ₹1,000 crore financial scam involving inflated procurement costs and collusion with bottle manufacturers, salesmen continue to demand ₹10–₹40 over the MRP from customers. In one viral incident from Cuddalore, a TASMAC staffer threatened a customer who asked for a bill, boldly claiming that officials from the Collector to the Minister were aware of the illegal collection. Similar cases have surfaced elsewhere, with officials admitting there’s no billing system in place. BJP leaders have raised sharp questions about where the excess money—running into crores annually—is going, suggesting a deep-rooted political and bureaucratic nexus.

Additionally, in 2024, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India’s 2021–2022 report on TASMAC highlighted serious operational lapses. Despite efforts to enable cashless payments, over 2,200 of the 5,359 PoS machines at retail outlets were non-functional, encouraging cash transactions and facilitating overcharging—177 of 238 complaints were related to this issue. The report criticizes TASMAC’s outdated procurement and vending policy and delays in implementing an end-to-end computerized Goods Monitoring System. It also flags irregularities in the tender process for liquor transport, pointing to potential cartelization, repeated winners, and vehicles with expired documents. A key bidder lacked a valid GSTIN. Additionally, TASMAC failed to pay ₹30.5 crore in differential excise duty, even though MRPs were revised. The CAG urged swift corrective action on PoS functionality, tender transparency, and excise compliance.

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The post Foreign YouTuber Inadvertently Exposes Corruption In TASMAC Run By Dravidian Model DMK Govt appeared first on The Commune.

YouTuber Irfan has once again sparked outrage, this time for his conduct during a Ramzan charity drive in Chennai. A video posted on his channel shows Irrfan and his wife distributing food and supplies from their car, where he was seen angrily scolding recipients for “grabbing” items. The clip has drawn severe criticism from netizens and public figures alike.

The Controversy

In the now-viral video, Irrfan and his wife hand out aid packets while seated inside their car. When some recipients reached in to collect the items, Irrfan shouted, “Don’t do this to me! Don’t hold me back! We came to give you something—why are you grabbing?“ He later claimed that some individuals touched his wife’s hands, prompting him to react defensively.

Basically, Irfan doesn’t know how to handle fame. Guy has been in the wrong books for a while . He doesn’t know what is wrong and what is right. Even if such words came out at the spur of the moment , could’ve edited it out . He didn’t expect this backlash pic.twitter.com/Gf3CGvRuOx

— Rajasekar (@sekartweets) April 1, 2025

The video triggered widespread condemnation, with many accusing Irrfan of performative charity and elitism. Critics argued that if he genuinely wanted to help, he should have distributed supplies respectfully instead of filming the act for clout.

Social media users have lambasted Irrfan for his “privileged and degrading“ approach to charity. Memes and critical posts have flooded platforms.

He does not know what is wrong or right!!! What is he? Kindergarten kid? Why such soft dealing when it comes to Irfan? https://t.co/Nv3nasaoWg

— 2tweet (@here2tweet1ly) April 1, 2025

He could've edited it but he didn't. He knows exactly that it will backlash.He wants that.He wants more people to search for his video and make money from it. Uploading controversial videos again and again isn’t just carelessness or miskate. it's arrogance and a habit. https://t.co/0mmw1jt89B

— நிலாந்தி (@nilaanthini) April 1, 2025

Imagine a Hindu or a Hindu Brahmin had done this… These b..rds wouldve abused Hinduism, Brahmins… All Hindu gods… But here it's only one bad guy who incidentally happens to be a Muslim or are ppl like this Rajasekar scared of Muslims!? https://t.co/Rs5h5TrdGK

— KishoreIyer (@KishoreIyer5) April 1, 2025

Irfan’s History Of Controversies

Mohamed Irfan’s car was involved in a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a 55-year-old woman who was crossing the road near Potheri in Chennai. While there were unconfirmed reports suggesting that Irfan was driving the car, authorities arrested 34-year-old Mohammed Azarudheen from Sithalapakam for the incident. The arrest was notably delayed, and the investigation began only later.

It is noteworthy that Irfan had previously faced controversy after disclosing the sex of his unborn child, following a prenatal test conducted abroad. Revealing the sex of a fetus is a violation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act.

Irfan also faced scrutiny for disclosing the sex of his unborn child following a prenatal test conducted abroad, which violated the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act. When this issue gained attention, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian stated that they had sought an explanation and issued a show cause notice, while consulting experts about the applicability of the law in this context. Experts contend that Indian laws can apply to citizens regardless of their location. Despite the serious nature of the violation, it took the DMK several months to respond.

It is noteworthy that Irfan shares a close relationship with the DMK scion. He did a public relations video with DMK scion and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin in November 2022. In the video Irfan asks Udhayanidhi Stalin “You’ve become my friend now right? You’re my friend right? Give your hand bro. (shakes hand). From now on, we’re friends. Like in the film OKOK (Oru Kal Oru Kannadi starring Udhayanidhi Stalin), if I get caught by police and call you, will you help me?”

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The post Serial Offender ‘YouTuber’ Irfan Now Demeans Poor People appeared first on The Commune.

Prashanth Rangasamy, a self-styled film critic and actor, who was seen praising TN BJP chief Annamalai recently has turned into a mouthpiece of the TVK all of a sudden (or was it).

In 2024 during the Lok Sabha polls, he was seen acknowledging Annamalai as an “undeniable political figure in Tamilnadu!”

Like him or hate him – @annamalai_k is now an undeniable political figure in Tamilnadu ! pic.twitter.com/IugMg9EWPA

— Prashanth Rangaswamy (@itisprashanth) February 27, 2024

Prashanth is known for his buttressing of the ruling DMK time and again so it was surprising for netizens to see such comments from him. However, his true colours came out recently when he was found speaking derogatorily about civil servants in an X space with members/followers of part-time politician Vijay’s TVK. He said, “Sanathanam means this – I have passed my IPS, I am egoistic, arrogant, he is just a cinema star, what will he have? Hey, it is these IAS IPS officers are the ones who are pulling the country down. The poor people are working hard for the country. IAS and IPS officers, I am not blaming all, but many of them are doing it, I am not just speaking in the air, they are looting to the rate of 500-600 crores. They are not doing it in cahoots with the poor, it is done with the politicians. So, everywhere it is this bureaucracy that is a headache. It is destroying everything. This bureaucracy is sitting in ECR. All of the officers have bought land from there until Mahabalipuram. We can’t even dream of the lives they are living. I know a lady IAS officer, who has imported teak from Japan. No one knows whether teak is found in Japan. She imported teak from there (Japan) and has decorated/furnished her house with it. We can build 3 houses with the budget of a window of that house she built. They are all living a royal life. They are not bothered if we people are alive. It is this bureaucracy that is controlling everyone who enters the system.”

In December 2022, Prashanth, a known DMK supporter, was caught contradicting his past stance on Aadhaar linking. While he previously criticized the Modi government for linking Aadhaar to bank accounts, calling it dictatorial, he is now praising the DMK government for mandating Aadhaar linking with electricity connections. When exposed, he initially denied opposing Aadhaar linking under Modi, but netizens unearthed his old tweets proving otherwise. He later tried to justify his hypocrisy by claiming he only opposed the implementation, not the scheme itself, highlighting his double standards in defending the DMK’s actions.

Fantastic move. So many super rich using the free electricity scheme for their advantage in the many many houses they have built and rented out.

This will get minimized because of this ! https://t.co/hjGYvdVFRB

— Prashanth Rangaswamy (@itisprashanth) December 14, 2022

He also went overboard in “welcoming” Pakis and abusing the non-left who questioned his stand during the Pak Vs Afg World Cup series match in October 2023.

Pakistan cricket team is not Pakistan ISI .

You clearly know that , but why u hate ? Because you want your agenda to sell !

No Indian will forgive the terrorists that attacked taj , also no sensible Indian will hate a random Pakistani . https://t.co/sOws1WPLsv

— Prashanth Rangaswamy (@itisprashanth) October 23, 2023

As an Indian , sincere apologies to the @TheRealPCB for such behaviour !

Sports has nothing to do with politics or religion !

pic.twitter.com/oAv3RgpVIb

— Prashanth Rangaswamy (@itisprashanth) October 14, 2023

Why sanghis are half brained ? Did he force his religion on you ?

I have no issues with u shouting " Jai Shree Ram " , but the sanghi brain wants to shout infront of a Muslim and make him feel bad – which I oppose ! https://t.co/zZTdIyS9qy

— Prashanth Rangaswamy (@itisprashanth) October 15, 2023

All love, no hate ! Tamilnadu for you ! pic.twitter.com/tA9PMZycIH

— Prashanth Rangaswamy (@itisprashanth) October 23, 2023

This same Prashanth Rangaswamy who had peddled the watch “sports as sports” trope had said that he won’t extend a warm welcome to Sri Lanka players back in 2013.

Not to diss you my friend. But emotions vary & you won’t get it unless you’re in somebody else’s shoes. https://t.co/tGMNfVKYFi pic.twitter.com/MyHAX6PQ5v

— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) October 24, 2023

He even made insensitive comments about a tragic accident involving a mother and her child. After a lady’s baby accidentally fell from a balcony but was miraculously rescued, she faced relentless online trolling, which deeply affected her. Amid this, Prashanth posted a callous remark questioning whether the parents even deserved a child. His comment fueled the public shaming of Ramya, who later died by suicide.

@tnpoliceoffl @chennaipolice_

Pls take action against the accused itisprashanth pic.twitter.com/y6dLjmPvPJ

— ரமேஷ் ராஜ் (@rameshraj27) May 19, 2024

Following her death, his remark received severe backlash from netizens, who blamed him and other trolls for their insensitivity and lack of empathy.

In what seems like an attack on BJP TN Chief Annamalai, Prashanth has indulged in abusing Indian Civil Service Officers peddling half-truths in the process.

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The post “IAS And IPS Officers Are The Ones Pulling The Country Down”: Two-Bit Film Reviewing Tamil YouTuber And A Political Turncoat Abuses Indian Civil Service Officers appeared first on The Commune.

The ruling DMK, known for its strict enforcement of the law against its critics, has recently drawn criticism for its handling of YouTuber and food vlogger Mohamed Irfan. While the party has not hesitated to arrest ordinary citizens for legal violations, it now appears to be extending a special appeasement to Irfan by issuing him a show cause notice, demanding an explanation regarding a controversial video he shared. In the viral clip, Irfan is seen cutting the umbilical cord of his newborn in an operating theater, notably without wearing a full protective apron.

The DMK’s action highlights concerns that Irfan’s video may set a poor example for the public, potentially encouraging non-professionals to engage in medical procedures without proper training or safety measures. This situation raises questions about the balance between freedom of expression and the responsibility that comes with it, particularly in sensitive areas like healthcare.

The video, uploaded on his YouTube channel, quickly went viral, garnering 1.4 million views in just two days. With the video circulating widely on social media, J. Rajamoorthy, Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, announced on 21 October 2024, that show-cause notices would be sent to both Irfan and the Sholinganallur-based hospital where the delivery took place. Additionally, a report on the doctor who assisted in the birth will be forwarded to the Tamil Nadu Medical Council.

Dr. Rajamoorthy expressed concerns about the video, stating, “The operation theatre should remain sterile, but he brought in a camera to film. Only trained medical personnel are authorized to cut the umbilical cord immediately after birth.” He also mentioned that the hospital could face legal action under the Tamil Nadu Clinical Establishments Act.

Critics and political commentators suggest that YouTube influencers like Mohamed Irfan have previously played a role in bolstering the DMK’s ideological influence in the state, especially leading up to elections. As a result, many believe the DMK may be reluctant to take action against him. In the current situation, any action would need to be initiated by J. Rajamoorthy, the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, who is also Tamil Nadu chief minister Stalin’s brother-in-law. This connection raises concerns that this case, like others before it, may ultimately fizzle out without meaningful consequences.

Irfan’s History Of Controversies

Mohamed Irfan’s car was involved in a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a 55-year-old woman who was crossing the road near Potheri in Chennai. While there were unconfirmed reports suggesting that Irfan was driving the car, authorities arrested 34-year-old Mohammed Azarudheen from Sithalapakam for the incident. The arrest was notably delayed, and the investigation began only later.

Irfan also faced scrutiny for disclosing the sex of his unborn child following a prenatal test conducted abroad, which violated the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act. When this issue gained attention, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian stated that they had sought an explanation and issued a show cause notice, while consulting experts about the applicability of the law in this context. Experts contend that Indian laws can apply to citizens regardless of their location. Despite the serious nature of the violation, it took the DMK several months to respond.

In addition, while other YouTube influencers faced fines for not wearing helmets or seatbelts, Irfan was spotted riding a motorcycle without a helmet and without number plates. He was only issued a show cause notice and a nominal fine of ₹1,500.

Now, Irfan has shared yet another controversial video, this time showing himself in an operating theater cutting the umbilical cord of his newborn. This pattern suggests that his actions are driven by a quest for fame, as he seemingly faces minimal repercussions for his repeated violations.

It is noteworthy to mention that Irfan shares a close relation with the DMK scion. He had done a public relations video with DMK scion and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin back in November 2022. In the video Irfan asks Udhayanidhi Stalin “You’ve become my friend now right? You’re my friend right? Give your hand bro. (shakes hand). From now on, we’re friends. Like in the film OKOK (Oru Kal Oru Kannadi starring Udhayanidhi Stalin), if I get caught by police and call you, will you help me?”

The question remains: will the DMK finally take significant action against him this time? Will he again be let go because of his close relations with the DMK?

(With inputs from The Hindu)

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The post Serial Offender YouTuber Mohamed Irfan Gets ‘Show Cause Notice’ For Filming Umbilical Cord Cutting; Closeness To DMK Helping Him Evade Law? appeared first on The Commune.

Meet ‘Savukku’ Shankar, the man who’s been a thorn in the side of Tamil Nadu’s political establishment for quite some time. A former government clerk turned digital rabble-rouser, Shankar has made a career out of airing the dirty laundry of Tamil Nadu’s power brokers.

His journey from a lower division clerk in the anti-corruption bureau to a YouTube cult figure in Tamil politics is as improbable as it is contentious.

‘Savukku’ Shankar’s modus operandi? Leak first, ask questions later.

His blog ‘Savukku’ (Tamil for ‘whip’) became notorious for publishing damning allegations against politicians and bureaucrats, often backed by leaked documents and recordings. But here’s the rub: while some hail him as a crusader for truth, others dismiss him as an opportunistic provocateur with a personal axe to grind.

His critics accuse him of being a political chameleon, praising the DMK one day and eviscerating them the next. They question the veracity of his ‘sources’ and wonder aloud about his true motivations. Is he really fighting corruption, or just settling scores? The Commune caught up with Shankar in an email interview. Read on…

The Commune: Introduce ‘Savukku’ Shankar to a pan-Indian audience.

Savukku Shankar (SS): We belong to an agricultural family. My father comes from a remote village in Thanjavur district. He was the first in the family to finish Pre-University in his village. He got a job at Standard Motors in Chennai through employment exchange. He was appointed as Lower Division Clerk in TN’s anti-corruption bureau.

In 1991, my father passed away suddenly, and I was appointed as LDC in TN Vigilance and Anti-Corruption. I was just 16 then and had completed my 10th standard. I never went to college and till now 10th standard is my only educational qualification. I got my promotions and became a Special Assistant in the Confidential Branch of the DVAC.

In 2008, a conversation between Vigilance Director Upadhyay IPS, and then Chief Secretary LK Tripathy got leaked. In the conversation, Tripathy was instructing Upadhyay to register a fresh corruption case against Selvi J Jayalalithaa, regarding the purchase of the Kodanadu estate. Upadhyay could be found refusing citing lack of evidence. This audio got leaked in the media and there was a Commission of Inquiry. The CoI said “I could be the one who leaked the audio” and recommended a CB-CID probe. I was arrested by CB-CID in July 2008 and got suspended. I remained under suspension till November 2022 and then the government dismissed me owing to my conviction in a contempt case by Madurai HC. The phone tapping case ended in acquittal in 2017, and after 11 years, the DMK government has gone on to appeal against the acquittal in the Madras HC.

After I got suspended, I did not have any work and was receiving a subsistence allowance. So I started assisting my advocate in his office in secretarial work. Right from a young age, I used to be a voracious reader and a keen observer of politics. Politics always fascinated me.
At that time (2008), the blogging concept was budding in Tamil where bloggers used to write about movies and literature. I broke the trend and started writing about corruption in the DMK government and bureaucracy. In 2010, I broke a story with documents about the then Intelligence Chief Jaffar Sait, who was very powerful in the DMK government. The next day, Jaffar Sait ordered my arrest in a false case and I was in prison for two days. The media reported it and my blog became popular.

This created interest in me and information started pouring in against the government. Since even then DMK kept the media under control, and my blog “Savukku” meaning whip, became the only outlet against DMK. That is how I got the acronym “Savukku” Shankar.
Till November 2022, I had been receiving a subsistence allowance from the government. Since I was getting around 40K from the government, I didn’t work anywhere or start any business as the 40K was enough for my sustenance. After my dismissal from the government, I had to do something. As I love journalism, I got help from friends and established Savukku Media in September 2023.

The Commune: You often mention ‘sources’ in your tweets. How much of that is based on verified information, and how much is masala?

SS: Look, people trust me. I know the reach of my information. The general audience trusts my information. Adding masala or exaggerating information will lead to a loss of credibility. Due to 15 years of experience in the field, I have the capability to sieve through real information and a plant. I agree that, at times, my sources may also be misled. But it happens rarely. If I think people are fools to believe whatever I write, there can’t be a bigger fool than me.

The Commune:  Some call you a whistleblower, others say you’re a provocateur with a vendetta, or are you just out for revenge?

SS: I consider myself as a whistleblower. My trouble started in my department due to my questioning of IPS officers getting preferential seats in the premier Anna University engineering courses.

Vendetta portion I firmly deny. If at all I had a vendetta, I should have continuously been against the DMK for the custodial torture I suffered during my arrest in 2008 in DMK govt. But I took a firm stand against the ruling ADMK in 2011 till their term ended in 2021. I was writing continuously against the ADMK govt till 2021.

Agent provocateur, feel it is the precise reason to publish news.

The Commune: How was your latest jail experience? You’ve mentioned the extensive travel due to the multiple cases against you, but what did a typical day look like for you? What kind of food were you served, how did you spend your time, and what were your interactions with fellow inmates like?

SS: My current prison experience was extremely difficult and cruel. I bore the full might of the state. Everyone wanted to do something to me and score brownie points with the ruling regime. On the night I was remanded (4th May 2024), immediately after I was admitted to prison, I was blindfolded and assaulted by 10 prison wardens. My desperate plea for mercy fell on deaf ears. Due to this assault, I suffered three fractures in my right hand due to which I could not use my right hand for 2 months. Even after the fracture, treatment was not given for 4 days. By this time, blisters appeared in my right hand where the lathi blows fell. Being a diabetic, I feared gangrene. Later the court intervened and then I got treatment.

Due to the fractures, to eat I needed a spoon, and metal spoon is a banned object in prison. I was provided with a plastic spoon. In Coimbatore prison, where I was first lodged, the experience was horrible. The prison superintendent Senthil Kumar, who ordered the breaking of my hand, confined me in a section where prisoners with psychiatric illnesses are lodged. The lockups in these cells are never opened. He had terrorized the entire prison by warning that those who talked with me would face severe punishment.
For 20 days I was in Coimbatore prison and the Madras HC thankfully transferred me to Chennai prison.

Chennai Puzhal prison gave a different treatment to me. They understood how to torture me without touching me. They refused me newspapers, which I found very disturbing to me. After I fasted for 3 days, they allowed two newspapers, and once the month was over, they again stopped. Foreign prisoners who were confined in the same block were warned of cutting off ration when they shared their newspapers.

I was locked up within a section where a few non-Tamil prisoners were confined. Though more than 50 prisoners including 30 foreign prisoners were allowed to move freely inside the High Security Block, I was not allowed out of my section.

My typical day in prison started with meeting the Jailer who comes for his morning visits at 7. He will listen to grievances. My daily requests to newspapers were always denied with a smile by officers.

I was never allowed to go to prison hospital till I went out of Puzhal prison because DMK former Minister Senthil Balaji was housed there. My PoP for the fracture was opened by doctors only in my cell and not in the hospital. When I was fasting, an IV drip was administered by seating me in a chair and tying the IV drip to the prison bar.

Books were my only companion in prison. Though Puzhal prison officials gave me English fiction books available in the prison library, they withheld all the books given by my advocates.

In Madurai too I was kept separately with a few prisoners in a murder case. Here I neither had problems with newspapers nor with books. But the heat was unbearable. The prison built in 1856 used to radiate heat at night. It was 40 degrees in Madurai throughout my stay.

The Commune: What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of the DMK?

SS: Arrogance.

The Commune: Before 2021, you praised the DMK and said Stalin was the right person to save Tamil Nadu from Edappadi K. Palaniswami and keep the BJP out. You were also vocal in your criticism of AIADMK, even making personal attacks on its leadership. Now, your stance has completely changed. What happened? Didn’t you foresee how the DMK would govern, given its past reputation?

SS: I firmly believe that once in five years there should be a change in government. I felt there should be a change after 10 years of continuous ADMK rule. I also felt that DMK would have learned its lessons after not being in power for 10 continuous years. I don’t feel any change in me, as I continue to question the ruling party which I feel is the job of a journalist, not to question opposition.

The Commune: Do you think democracy is in danger in Tamil Nadu?

SS: I rather feel there is no democracy in TN. TN has become a police state. Supreme Court in several judgments insisted on the importance of Article 19 (1) (a) – Freedom of expression. Lack of freedom of expression instills fear in the minds of citizens and it tinkers with our thought process and affects the flow of thought.

My arrest and arrests of several people for tweets, FB posts, YouTube videos, etc., have scared most of the people in TN to express their thoughts against the DMK govt. My arrest was the last nail in the coffin.

The Commune: Why do you think the DMK should be eradicated?

SS: DMK has served its purpose. Time has come for it to perish I feel. All the terms of DMK be it the seventies, nineties, or the 2006 and the current regime, displayed arrogance of the highest order. The current regime is the pinnacle of arrogance. DMK has come far away from its ideologies. There is no social justice even within the party. There is only family justice. Neither the current President of DMK – MK Stalin, nor the future president – Udhayanidhi instills any hope of a revival. It has reached its expiry date.

The Commune: Udhayanidhi Stalin or Kanimozhi? Who is better suited to lead the DMK?

SS: Kanimozhi could be a better leader, but she lacks the will and drive. She is timid.

The Commune: People call you a proxy worker for Kanimozhi. What’s your comment?

SS: I feel Kanimozhi deserves a better place in DMK. She did spend 6 months in prison for the family. Only for family – to protect her stepmother from going behind bars at the request of her father. I know what prison is. I feel she should be given a better position. After all, even in family politics, there should be some fairness.

Compared to Kanimozhi, Udhayanidhi Stalin, never faced even a bit of difficulty in life. His life is the life of a prince in a palace. When he is about to be handed over the party, Kanimozhi deserves better I feel, and I spoke my mind.

The Commune: The DMK, while in opposition, kept the AIADMK on its toes with protests, social media narratives, and through cinema. The AIADMK, as the opposition now, seems lackluster. What’s holding them back from delivering stronger punches?

SS: I agree that ADMK’s performance is lackadaisical. True, they are missing out lot of opportunities to deliver a knockout punch on the DMK. But I understand the lack of power in the punches of ADMK due to the confusion prevailing regarding the existence of factions. But, I feel Edappadi Palanisamy is a canny player. His firm stand not to induct any of the factional leaders shows his resoluteness and firmness. This is a quintessential quality for a leader. He has his ears on the ground. I expect ADMK to deliver better in 2025. EPS very well knows that, if he doesn’t capture power in 2026, he will perish along with the party. It’s a final battle for him.

The Commune: How much of an impact do you think Vijay will have on Tamil Nadu politics? Or is he a proxy for the DMK to siphon off anti-DMK or anti-incumbency votes for 2026, similar to what Kamal Haasan did in 2021?

SS: Vijay is certainly not a proxy of DMK. And Vijay is certainly not Kamalhassan. But, even after the formal announcement of a political party, he has not commenced politics at all. Till his final film is released, I don’t think he will comment on anything fearing the business of his last movie, as entire theaters in Tamil Nadu are controlled by Udhayanidhi-owned Red Giant. Let him properly enter politics. We can then gauge him.

The Commune: What are three good and three bad things in the last 10 years of BJP rule?

SS: I am not able to see any good things in the BJP rule of 10 years. Regarding bad things, I can write multiple pages.
The two most important things that the BJP has done damage I feel are foreign policy and communal politics. All our neighbours have become inimical to us and BJP has not countered the existential Chinese threat properly. Due to communal politics, BJP has torn the fabric of the country on communal lines which do not appear to mend any time soon.

The Commune: You’re a supporter of Rahul Gandhi. Some argue that while it’s one thing to criticize the ruling government as an Opposition leader, it’s another to attack India from abroad. His comments have provided fodder for anti-Indian elements, such as the recent remarks regarding Sikhs that have been exploited by Khalistani terrorists like Gurupatwant Singh Pannun. What are your thoughts?

SS: I do not mind criticizing the ruling government anywhere in the globe. Truth can be spoken anywhere. PM Mr. Modi has gone to the extent of campaigning for Trump in a Presidential election. Regarding Khalistani terrorists, they increased their voice due to the botched attempt by India to assassinate such elements on foreign soil. This had armed the Western nations with a stick to beat India.

The Commune: Using caste slurs for any caste is wrong, yet terms like “paarpans” and “noolibans” used against Brahmins often go unchallenged. What are your thoughts?

SS: Regarding the word “Paarpans” I felt it’s not a slur as poet Bharathy had used it. If it offends people, I have to change. I have never used the word “Noolibans”.

The Commune: You seem to make personal attacks on individuals you dislike, whether it’s Sridhar Vembu, Ramnath Kovind, EPS, or certain police officers. Don’t you think criticism should focus on the merits or demerits of a person’s words or actions rather than being personal?

SS: No excuse on this aspect. I should mend. I evolve and learn constantly. Yes, I completely agree that criticisms should be on merits and actions. I regret making personal attacks.

The Commune: Who is your favorite politician on the national level, and why?

SS: Rahul Gandhi. I like the fighting spirit in RG. He appears to be undeterred, and he doesn’t hesitate to pull punches on anything that was considered taboo. One defeat can deter a leader. After three losses, he is up and fighting.

The Commune: Who is your favorite politician on the state level, and why?

SS: Edappadi Palaniswami. EPS doesn’t have savvy education. He is not a scion of any big political family. Surviving and taking over AIADMK after the demise of Jayalalithaa managing the factions and emerging as a single unanimous leader shows that he is a very good political player. Good players make any game interesting.

The Commune: Share one positive and one negative trait about each of the following politicians: Udhayanidhi Stalin, Annamalai, Edappadi Palanisamy, and Seeman.

SS:

Udhayanidhi Stalin
Positive – Very polite
Negative – Careless

Annamalai
Positive – Ambitious
Negative – Too ambitious

Edappadi Palanisamy
Positive – Self Confidence
Negative – Too slow in reacting to issues.

Seeman
Positive – Spontaneity
Negative – Thoughtless utterances.

The Commune: What are your favorite movies and TV shows? Are you currently binge-watching anything?

SS: Favourite movie – Vada Chennai, Viduthalai, Nayagan, Mudhal Mariyadhai, Satya
TV Shows – Game of Thrones, Money Heist.
I am not binging on anything as the numerous cases take my time. I spend most of my time with advocates discussing proceedings. Maybe after I get a breather after a few months, I will watch something interesting.

The Commune: Can you recommend three books?

SS: Freedom at Midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins

India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha

The Last Moghul by William Dalrymple

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The post “DMK Must Be Eradicated”, Says YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar In This No-Holds Barred Interview With The Commune appeared first on The Commune.

On 9 August 2024, the Madras High Court quashed a Goondas Act detention order against YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar, also known as A. Shankar, which had been issued by the Greater Chennai City Commissioner of Police on 12 May 2024. The order had placed Shankar under detention according to the Goondas Act for allegedly engaging in activities that were deemed harmful to public order.

A Division Bench consisting of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and V. Sivagnanam ruled in favour of a habeas corpus petition filed by Shankar’s mother, A. Kamala, challenging the legality of her son’s detention. The court ordered that Shankar be released immediately, provided he was not required for detention in connection with any other cases.

Savukku Shankar’s YouTube interview

Shankar had been initially arrested on 4 May 2024 following a criminal complaint lodged by the Coimbatore cyber-crime police.

The complaint stemmed from comments he made during a YouTube interview, which allegedly disparaged the conduct of women police officers.

Following his arrest, several additional cases were filed against him. Consequently, the Commissioner invoked the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, commonly known as the Goondas Act. The Act is designed to detain individuals involved in various offences, including cybercrime and activities prejudicial to public order.

Although the Supreme Court had earlier granted Shankar interim bail in the preventive detention case, he remained in custody due to his formal arrest in several other criminal cases while detained at Puzhal Central Prison.

After quashing Savukku Shankar's Goondas detention order, Justices SM Subramaniam & V Sivagnanam of #MadrasHighCourt order that he should be released unless his continuous detention is required in connection with other cases. @THChennaihttps://t.co/hZHDmt6eEo

— Mohamed Imranullah S (@imranhindu) August 9, 2024

Court’s criticism of the Goondas Act misuse

On 6 August 2024, the Court scrutinised the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government’s decision to detain Shankar under the Goondas Act, questioning whether the action was selective.

Justices SM Subramaniam and V Sivagnanam said preventive detention is a colonial-era law and should be employed cautiously. They warned that suppressing the voices of media professionals and YouTubers could revert the country to colonial practices.

The court remarked, “Preventive detention is a colonial law. Detaining power should be used sparingly. If the voices of YouTubers and media people are strangulated, we’ll return to colonial times. Media is the fourth pillar of democracy.”

(With inputs from The Hindu)

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The post Madras High Court Quashes Goondas Act Detention Of YouTuber Savukku Shankar appeared first on The Commune.