Chennai: Popular YouTuber Savukku Shankar, who was out on interim bail for medical reasons, has been arrested once again. Police apprehended him while he was staying at a lodge in Andhra Pradesh, after he allegedly defied a High Court order and challenged the Greater Chennai Police, stating, “Arrest me if you can.” The police are now taking steps to produce him before the court.
Background of the case
Savukku Shankar was previously arrested on December 13 in connection with fraud cases registered at the Adambakkam and Saidapet police stations in Chennai. Following the rejection of his bail petition, his mother filed a petition, based on which Shankar was granted interim bail on medical grounds.
Violation of bail conditions
After being released on bail, Shankar continued to upload videos on YouTube. Consequently, the police filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking the cancellation of his bail. Upon hearing these petitions, the Madras High Court ordered that Shankar could be arrested if it was established that he had violated his bail conditions.
Meanwhile, a petition filed by Shankar’s mother on March 24 was dismissed. Specifically, the judges issued an order dismissing the case filed by his mother seeking medical treatment and bail for Shankar. Regarding a petition seeking to transfer the case to the CBI, the judges stated that since Shankar’s interim bail period was expiring, he was required to surrender; failing to do so, the police were authorized to initiate appropriate legal action against him.
Failure to surrender and arrest
Shankar, however, did not surrender and continued to remain in hiding. At the same time, he continued to upload videos on YouTube. Against this backdrop, Shankar filed a petition in the High Court seeking to transfer the investigation of the cases registered against him to the CBI. This petition came up for hearing before the bench of Justice M. Nirmal Kumar. During the hearing, the police submitted that Shankar continued to remain in hiding and that the Chennai Police were actively searching for him after declaring him an absconding offender. The police stated that charge sheets have already been filed in the respective courts regarding both cases in which a CBI inquiry had been sought. Consequently, the judge adjourned the hearing of this case to April 27.
Meanwhile, Shankar has been arrested in Andhra Pradesh. The police arrested him, citing that he had issued a challenge daring them to arrest him if they could.