Tamil Youtuber and whistleblower Savukku Shankar was released from the Cuddalore Central Prison on Saturday, November 19, after he was granted bail in four cases registered by the cyber crime wing of Chennai Central Crime Branch. The Egmore Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court granted bail to Shankar in the pending cases on Thursday. He was arrested over the four cases on November 10 while he was still lodged at the Cuddalore Central Prison, a day before the Supreme Court suspended his six months’ imprisonment sentence for contempt of court.
The Registrar of the Madurai bench of Madras High Court imposed certain conditions as Shankar was released from prison. Shankar has to appear before the Judicial Magistrate VI, Madurai everyday at 10.30 am until further orders. During the period of suspension of sentence, Shankar is not allowed make any comments or any other such activity on social media as directed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had earlier directed him not to make any videos or comments about any proceedings before the High Court, while suspending his sentence. He will have to appear before the Madras High Court as and when directed. Shankar has also been told to not indulge in any other activities offending the judiciary.
The cyber crime wing of Chennai Central Crime Branch had registered three cases against him in 2020, and another one in 2021. One of the cases registered in 2020 is under sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The other two cases have been registered under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 505(1)(b) of the IPC. The 2021 case is registered under sections 5(1)(a), 5(1)(d) and 5(2) of the Official Secrets Act. Section 5 of the Act deals with wrongful communication, etc. of information.
Shankar was sentenced to six months in prison as the Madurai bench of Madras High Court held him guilty of criminal contempt of court. Justice GR Swaminathan had initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Shankar for saying that the “entire judiciary is riddled with corruption” and implying that the judge ‘met’ someone in a connection with a case against right-wing YouTuber Maridhas, on September 15. On November 11, the Supreme Court suspended his sentence, and a bench comprised of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and JK Maheshwari also directed him not to make any videos or comments about any proceedings before the High Court.