Coimbatore court grants one-day police custody for YouTuber Savukku Shankar in a case related to alleged derogatory remarks. His lawyer claims police officers escorting Shankar are under severe stress.
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Third Additional Criminal Court has ordered one-day police custody for YouTuber Savukku Shankar in connection with a case filed against him for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Muthuramalinga Thevar.
The case stems from a complaint filed on May 15 by a Coimbatore-based lawyer named Muthu at the Race Course Police Station. The complaint accused Shankar of making defamatory statements about Muthuramalinga Thevar. Subsequently, a case was registered against Shankar on August 2, leading to his arrest.
The Race Course Police had initially requested three days of custody for interrogation. However, Judge Saravanababu granted only one day of custody for questioning Savukku Shankar.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Shankar vehemently stated, "The DMK government is so afraid of me that they have invoked the Goondas Act against me for the second time."
Gopalakrishnan, the lawyer representing Savukku Shankar, shared more details with the press. He explained that a new case was filed against Shankar 90 days ago, leading to today's court appearance. "We have always been willing to cooperate with the investigation," he added.
The lawyer criticized the hurried nature of the arrests, suggesting they were timed to preempt a petition filed by Shankar's mother, which is due for hearing tomorrow. He also questioned the decision to transfer Shankar to Madurai despite a High Court order, calling it contempt of court.
Gopalakrishnan raised concerns about the treatment of Shankar in custody. "They are sending the same female police officers whom Shankar allegedly spoke wrongly about, to accompany him. This is causing situations where he can't even drink water or urinate comfortably. It's a violation of human rights," he claimed.
The lawyer concluded by drawing parallels to the case of Perarivalan's mother Arputhammal, stating that Shankar's mother, Kamala, is now leading a legal battle. He warned the government and police that their actions wouldn't intimidate Shankar. "Even if he receives a sentence, he will return and speak out. What will you do then, kill him? How long can you keep him inside?" Gopalakrishnan challenged.