“Madras HC Bail Direction Ordering Closure Of YouTube Channel ‘Unwarranted’, ‘Extraneous'”: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday has deemed the Madras High Court’s directive requiring YouTuber Felix Jerald to close his channel, “RedPix 24×7,” as “unwarranted and extraneous.” The Supreme Court reaffirmed its previous order from September 6, which granted Jerald bail without the stipulation to shut down his channel.

Court Proceedings

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Manoj Misra reviewed submissions from senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing Jerald. The bench acknowledged that Jerald had already been released on bail following the earlier order.

Key Findings

The Supreme Court stated, “The bail order of September 6 is hereby confirmed.” The bench criticized the high court’s condition to close the YouTube channel as unnecessary, while allowing other bail conditions to remain in effect.

Background of Arrest

Jerald was arrested for hosting a controversial interview with fellow YouTuber Savukku Shankar, who made disparaging remarks about Madras High Court judges and women police officers. Following their arrests, the high court granted bail but imposed the condition of shutting down Jerald’s channel.

Judicial Inquiry

During proceedings, Chief Justice Chandrachud questioned the rationale behind hosting such interviews, highlighting the serious nature of the allegations made against the judiciary. Sankaranarayanan argued that the closure of a channel with 2.4 million subscribers was a harsh penalty.

Co-Accused Release

On September 25, the Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Savukku Shankar, who had been detained under the Tamil Nadu Goondas Act shortly after his bail. This decision followed the Tamil Nadu government’s revocation of his detention based on an advisory board’s assessment.

Additional Legal Issues

Shankar, arrested on May 4, faced multiple FIRs due to his derogatory comments made during the interview on April 30. He is also under investigation by the Theni Police for alleged possession of marijuana.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s ruling underscores the balance between judicial oversight and individual rights, reaffirming Jerald’s ability to operate his YouTube channel while maintaining other conditions of his bail.

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