Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government under Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has ordered the immediate release of YouTuber A. Shankar, popularly known as ‘Savukku’ Shankar, citing insufficient cause for detention. The government revoked the preventive detention order issued against him.
According to the official order issued by the Home, Prohibition and Excise (XIII) Department, the government has set aside the detention order based on the unanimous recommendation of the advisory board under the Tamil Nadu Preventive Detention Act, 1982.
The board reviewed the grounds of detention, related records, and heard the oral representation of Shankar, before concluding there was “no sufficient cause” for his continued detention.
The order specifically directs the immediate release of Shankar from the central prison, Puzhal, unless he is required in connection with any other case or serving a sentence.
This is the third instance where Shankar’s detention under the Act has been set aside. His earlier detention was quashed by the Madras High Court in 2024, followed by another under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
The latest detention under the Goondas Act, following an order issued by the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner in April 2026, linked to an attempt-to-murder case. In that case, Shankar and others were accused of pelting stones at escort police personnel during a transit stop near Kavankarai while being brought from Andhra Pradesh to Chennai after his arrest.
Last week, the Madras High Court granted him bail in a different attempt-to-murder case. The court noted that Shankar was already in police custody at the time of the alleged incident.
The government’s decision comes amid legal challenges and public scrutiny of the application of preventive detention laws. The order was issued following inputs from the Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, and the advisory board.
‘Savukku’ Shankar is known for his political commentary and has had a series of cases filed against him in recent years. On Wednesday, the Madras High Court also granted conditional bail to Savukku Shankar in a defamation case linked to the film ‘Red and Follow’.
Justice R. Sakthivel, hearing the matter in the vacation court, noted that the investigation was complete and the charge sheet had been filed. The court directed Shankar to appear daily before the Adambakkam Police Station. The case stemmed from allegations that Shankar made defamatory remarks claiming the film was funded by narcotics money involving Ajay Vandaiyar, and that he later demanded and allegedly took money from producer P. Mahesh while assaulting and threatening him.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)