Tamil Youtuber 'Savukku' Shankar was arrested on Saturday, May 4 in Theni by the Coimbatore Cyber Crime Police. The police have accused Shankar of making defamatory comments against women police personnel. While he was being taken to Coimbatore, the police vehicle met with an accident near Dharmapuri district. According to reports, police personnel and Shankar sustained minor injuries.
In an interview, Shankar alleged that women police officers were giving sexual favours to a senior police officer for getting promoted. He said, “Does a female sub inspector fall in love with an IG because of his looks? Everywhere he (a higher ranked male officer) goes, subordinate officers who are women fall in love with him, is it because of his looks? It's because if they adjust with him they can get a good posting, that's why.”
According to initial reports, a case has been filed against him under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 294(b) (Obscene acts and songs), 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman) and under section 353 IPC (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty). He has also been booked under section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act (prohibition of Eve-Teasing) and section 67 of the Information Technology (IT) Act (2000) (punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.)
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswamy has condemned the arrest and sought Chief Minister MK Stalin’s intervention. “The DMK government should stop political vandalism against the employees and readers of Savukku Media and ensure the free functioning of the press, which is the fourth pillar of democracy,” he added.
It may be noted that Shankar was previously booked by the Chennai police in 2020 and 2021. He was sentenced to prison by the Madras High Court for six months after declaring him guilty of criminal contempt of court. He was later granted bail in November 2022.