CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday (Dec 26) granted conditional bail to YouTuber Savukku Shankar, while raising sharp questions over the urgency shown by the police in arresting him soon after a complaint was filed.
Savukku Shankar had approached the Madras High Court seeking bail, and his petition came up for hearing before a bench presided over by Justice S M Subramaniam. After hearing the matter, the judge granted him conditional bail, said a Daily Thanthi report.
As part of the bail conditions, Savukku Shankar has been directed to surrender his passport to the police and appear before the investigating officer whenever required. The court also instructed him not to tamper with or influence witnesses in any manner.
During the hearing, Justice S M Subramaniam questioned the police on their conduct, asking why there was such urgency in arresting Savukku Shankar. The judge specifically sought to know the reason for arresting him in the early hours of the morning, just a day after the complaint was lodged, the report added.
The Chennai police arrested activist and YouTuber Savukku Shankar after a five-hour standoff at his residence on Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road for allegedly threatening the owner of a bar and recreation club and taking Rs 94,000 through UPI payment from him through intermediaries.
The Saidapet Police have booked Shankar under sections 296 (b), 353 (1) (c), 308 (5), 61 (2), 351 (3) of the BNS based on a complaint from the establishment's owner, Harichandran, alleging that Savukku media spread false information about the establishment and demanded money to stop talking about his outlet.