The Madras Corporation Red Flag Union, representing sanitation workers, has denied media claims of their involvement in the vandalism of YouTuber Savukku Shankar’s house in Tamil Nadu.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 25, the union said, “The attack on a YouTuber's home has nothing to do with sanitation workers. We kindly request the media to refrain from mistakenly using the name of sanitation workers.”
On March 24, a group of unidentified individuals, allegedly posing as sanitation workers, entered Savukku’s residence, poured sewage water inside, ransacked the house, and verbally abused his mother.
The attack is believed to be retaliation for Savukku’s derogatory comments on sanitation workers while discussing alleged corruption in the distribution of sewer-cleaning machines provided by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s government.
Savukku has accused Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President and MLA Selvaperunthagai K. of orchestrating the attack. In a YouTube video, he claimed that Selvaperunthagai had procured the sewage cleaning vehicles distributed by Stalin under his nominees' names.
"If someone told these sanitation workers that they don't need to do any work and yet will be paid ₹50,000, they can drink and stay at home, won't they like it? All that they need to say is that the vehicle belongs to them," Savukku had said in one of his videos.
The police believe that this statement offended sanitation workers. However, Savukku has alleged that V. Vanishree Vijayakumar, a supporter of Selvaperunthagai, was behind the attack. He also livestreamed the incident on Facebook.
Several political leaders have condemned the attack, including AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai, Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam general secretary N. Anand.
Savukku has also accused the police of complicity, claiming that the intruders arrived in a bus just as he was leaving his residence. A stone was reportedly hurled at his vehicle. When his mother refused to open the door, the attackers allegedly forced entry through the back door and vandalized the house.
Following a complaint filed by Savukku Shankar’s mother with the Kilpauk police on March 25, Chennai Commissioner Arun requested the Director General of Police (DGP) to transfer the case to another agency. The investigation was subsequently handed over to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID).
On March 24, Savukku Shankar announced that he was shutting down his YouTube channel, “Savukku Media Network”.
It is noteworthy that in 2024, over 20 cases were registered against Savukku, including charges of possessing ganja and making defamatory comments against women police personnel. The Goondas Act—a stringent law that allows for preventive detention of habitual offenders—was invoked against him.
After more than four months in detention, the Supreme Court (SC) directed the Tamil Nadu police to revoke the Goondas Act against him and ordered his immediate release.