The Madras High Court on Tuesday declined to hear a petition filed by controversial YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar, who sought the de-freezing of his bank accounts and the return of electronic devices and other materials confiscated from him by the Chennai city police.
Court Directs Petitioner to Approach Lower Court
A vacation bench comprising Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice P Dhanabal did not grant any relief to Shankar. Instead, the bench explicitly directed him to approach the jurisdictional magistrate for any recourse regarding his seized assets and frozen accounts. This decision came after Shankar's counsel urgently mentioned the plea for a hearing at the commencement of the court's proceedings.
Background of the Arrest and Medical Bail
Savukku Shankar was arrested by the Adambakkam police on allegations of assaulting and extorting ₹2 lakh from film producer Purushothaman. In a related development, on December 26, the same vacation bench had granted him interim bail for a period of 12 weeks. This bail was secured on a plea moved by his mother, A Kamala, on the grounds that he required immediate medical attention for cardiac and diabetic conditions.
Notably, during that bail hearing, the court had also censured the state police, criticizing them for what it perceived as an attempt to harass individuals who dissent against the government.
Latest Hearing and Outcome
During Tuesday's hearing, although the bench agreed to take up Shankar's latest plea at the end of the day's list, it ultimately disposed of the matter without providing the requested relief. The court's firm direction to seek remedies from the jurisdictional magistrate underscores the procedural path it believes the case must follow. This leaves Shankar's legal team to pursue his claims regarding the seized materials and frozen finances in a lower court, adding another chapter to the ongoing legal saga surrounding the prominent YouTuber.
