Popular YouTuber and political commentator ‘Savukku’ Shankar is detained again under the Goondas Act by Theni District Collector RV Shajeevana in connection with a ganja-related case. Shankar and two accomplices were initially arrested in May 2024 for possessing 500 grams of ganja in his vehicle. On 12 August 2024, Shankar appeared in court in Sivagangai District in connection to this case.
In a related incident, Theni district police also apprehended Mahendran, who is alleged to have supplied the ganja to Shankar and confiscated 3 kg of ganja from his home.
This action follows a recent decision by a division bench of Justices S. M. Subramanian and V. Sivagnanam of the High Court, which had annulled Shankar’s earlier detention under the Goondas Act. The earlier detention was linked to derogatory remarks Shankar made about female police officers.
The court had ruled that preventive detention laws should not be used to suppress speech in the absence of public order or security threats and had ordered Shankar’s release if he was not required in any other cases. Despite the Madras High Court’s strong criticism, the Tamil Nadu Police detained YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar related to a ganja possession case from May 2024. 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.”
Shankar has consistently asserted that the charges against him are being pursued at the direction of Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. Shankar said, “New cases are being filed against me, and I’m being arrested every day. Udhayanidhi Stalin is responsible for all these arrests,” following his appearance in the Sivagangai court.
In this context, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, an ally in the DMK alliance in Tamil Nadu, indirectly criticized the DMK government for imposing the Goondas Act on the YouTuber. This move follows a recent court decision that had overturned a previous detention under similar charges.
Sivaganga Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram has criticized Shankar’s detention, calling it “unacceptable” and predicting another reversal by the judiciary. Taking this issue to his official X account stated, “@savukku‘s comments can be below the belt & distasteful. He often indulges in hyperbole & sensationalism. But to book him under #Goondas again is a flagrant overkill & is unacceptable. Another judicial overturn will happen.”
@savukku's comments can be below the belt & distasteful. He often indulges in hyperbole & sensationalism. But to book him under #Goondas again is a flagrant overkill & is unacceptable. Another judicial overturn will happen. @tnpoliceoffl @the_hindu @PTI_News @ANI @News18TamilNadu… https://t.co/XQfVmXKvmL
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) August 12, 2024
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