After his release from prison, YouTuber Savukku Shankar took aim at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, comparing him to a “bonsai plant grown under the shadow of his father.” Shankar, who was arrested by the Coimbatore Cyber Crime Police for making derogatory comments about female police officers and other officials, was detained under the Goondas Act. He was later granted bail, and the Madras High Court quashed his detention under the Goondas Act.However, new charges were filed against Shankar, including accusations of possession of marijuana. This led to his second arrest under the Goondas Act by the Theni police. His mother filed a habeas corpus petition, and the Supreme Court ultimately quashed his detention under the Goondas Act, ordering his release if there were no other pending charges.
Upon his release from Madurai Central Prison, Shankar spoke to the media, revealing alleged physical abuse by police while in custody, leading to fractures in his right arm. He claimed that the DMK government pressured him to support the party or face extended imprisonment, which he refused, leading to further detention.
Shankar accused Chief Minister Stalin of lacking the strength to handle criticism, stating, “Stalin is not someone who grew by facing criticism; he is like a bonsai plant grown under the shadow of his father.” He further criticized Stalin’s leadership, comparing it to a hereditary position, similar to government jobs provided to the families of deceased employees.
Savukku Shankar also claimed that his media platforms and properties were sealed because he exposed the truth, accusing both Stalin and his son, Udhayanidhi, of being overly cautious about suppressing criticism. He referenced the recent deaths of 66 people in Kallakurichi and demanded a CBI investigation into the incident.
Shankar also mentioned a 2003 letter from DGP Shankar Jiwal, which warned about the unchecked transportation of methanol in Tamil Nadu and the potential for tragedies similar to the illicit liquor deaths in Marakkanam. He blamed the government for not acting on this warning, which, according to him, could have prevented the Kallakurichi tragedy.
He concluded by stating that his media platforms were silenced to suppress the truth, drawing attention to the arrest of Varahi, who filed a case against Additional DGP Davidson for passport fraud. Shankar warned that steps were being taken to detain Varahi under the Goondas Act as well.
Despite being in jail for five months, Shankar vowed to continue his work with the same vigor. He emphasized that there is no press freedom in Tamil Nadu and highlighted the mistreatment he faced in Coimbatore prison.