YouTuber Savukku Shankar Jailed For 3 Years In 2013 Defamation Case
Savukku Shankar sentenced to three years in prison in case filed by advocate Mahalakshmi
A Chennai court on Tuesday sentenced YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar to three years’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 in a case filed by former Sun TV news reader and Advocate Mahalakshmi.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Sivashakthi convicted Shankar under Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with words or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman, and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.
The court also granted Shankar 30 days to challenge the conviction and sentence before a higher court.
The case originated from a complaint filed by Mahalakshmi in 2013. She had alleged that Shankar published defamatory remarks about her on his website, ‘Savukku’.
Mahalakshmi later approached the Egmore court, alleging that Shankar and his associates had threatened her, defamed her and fabricated documents in connection with the dispute.
During the proceedings, Mahalakshmi’s side argued that Shankar had deliberately made defamatory allegations against her and issued threats, warranting legal action.
Shankar’s counsel denied the allegations and contended that the complaints and charges against him were false.
After hearing both sides, the court held that the charges against Shankar under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act had been proved and proceeded to impose the three-year sentence and fine.
Shankar’s counsel sought time to challenge the conviction and sentence before a higher court. The court granted 30 days for filing the appeal.
The case is separate from other criminal proceedings involving Shankar in recent years.
Shankar runs the YouTube platform ‘Savukku Media’, through which he has published commentary on politicians, bureaucrats and the judiciary. He has faced several legal proceedings over statements and allegations made through his online platforms.
[Inputs: NDTV]