The Madras High Court has annulled the detention order against YouTuber Savukku Shankar, which was issued under the Goondas Act of 1982.
Justices SM Subramaniam and V Sivagnanam made the ruling, overturning the preventive detention order that had been imposed by the Chennai Commissioner of Police on May 12.
In July, the Supreme Court granted interim relief to Shankar while awaiting the Madras High Court’s decision on his detention.
Shankar was initially arrested on May 4 for allegedly making defamatory comments about women police officers, based on a complaint filed by a Coimbatore City Police sub-inspector. Following this, the Chennai Police added two more cases against him: one related to an old harassment complaint by journalist Sandhya Ravishankar and another based on a complaint from Veeralakshmi, founder of Tamilar Munnetra Padai.
After Shankar’s arrest, Sandhya Ravishankar publicly thanked the police, writing, “Thanks to CoP, Chennai, and team,” and noting that an FIR was registered against Shankar on May 7, 2024, under several sections of the IPC and the TN Prevention of Harassment of Women Act. Similarly, Chennai Police noted on X that another case had been registered based on Veeralakshmi’s complaint, with charges including sections 294(b) and 506(i) of the IPC.
On May 12, 2024, Tamil Nadu police issued a detention order branding Shankar as a ‘goonda’ under Section 2(f) of the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982, citing his activities as harmful to public peace.
