The Coimbatore City Police arrested YouTuber A. Shankar alias ‘Savukku’ Shankar, early on Saturday, May 4, 2024, from Theni.
Police said he was arrested by the Cyber Crime Wing for his allegedly derogatory remarks regarding police personnel in Tamil Nadu, made in an interview he gave to another YouTube channel. A case was registered against him, based on a complaint lodged by Sub-Inspector Sukanya of the Crime Branch Wing, Coimbatore City Police. He has been booked for offences committed under Sections 294(b), 509 and 353 IPC r/w section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act and section 67 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.
Hours after his arrest however, Mr. Shankar and the constables escorting him from Theni to Coimbatore, were involved in a road accident in Dharapuram, and sustained injuries.
Mr. Shankar and the constables were provided with first aid at the Dharapuram Government Hospital and then provided further with treatment at a private hospital, police said.
The accident occurred when a lorry brushed the jeep Mr. Shankar and the police were travelling in, from the front, near ITI Corner in Dharapuram town, in Tiruppur district. Police said that the injuries all occupants of the vehicle suffered were minor in nature. Another jeep was arranged to escort Mr. Shankar to Coimbatore, police said.
Shankar’s driver detained
Meanwhile in Theni district, the Palanichettipatti police detained Mr. Shankar’s driver and another person said to be his accomplice.
The police gave the names of the two as Ram Prabhu, the driver) and Rajarathinam. The car was also impounded by the police.
A senior police officer is interrogating the duo.
Mr. Shankar was remanded in judicial custody till May 17 by Judicial Magistrate 1 Gopalakrishnan late in the night, and housed in the Coimbatore Central Prison.
