Popular Tamil YouTuber and political commentator Savukku Shankar found himself in legal trouble on Saturday as he was arrested by the Coimbatore Police over alleged defamatory remarks against women police officials.
The arrest, conducted by the cyber crime wing of the Coimbatore Police, took place in Theni, and Shankar is set to be transferred to Coimbatore for further interrogation.
The arrest was prompted by a complaint filed by a woman sub-inspector of police, leading to charges under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Sections 294(b) (obscene acts and songs), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), and 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), as well as sections of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act and the Information Technology Act of 2000, as stated by the Coimbatore Police in a social media post.
Shankar is alleged to have made derogatory remarks during a recent online interview, sparking legal action against him.
In a twist of events, the police van transporting Shankar to Coimbatore was involved in an accident near Dharapuram earlier in the day, resulting in minor injuries to Shankar and two police officials. They were promptly treated at a government hospital for their injuries.
Savukku Shankar, known for his vocal criticism of the MK Stalin-led DMK government in Tamil Nadu, has a history of legal entanglements. Previously, he was sentenced to a six-month jail term by the Madras High Court for contempt.
Shankar, a suspended employee of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), operates a portal named 'Savakku' and frequently appears on Tamil YouTube channels, according to Business Today. He gained notoriety in 2008 when he was arrested by the then-DMK government for allegedly leaking a tape containing audio conversations of two top officials. Since then, Shankar has transitioned into a political commentator and has exposed several scandals.
