The Madras High Court has requested a report from the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Coimbatore, regarding the health condition of YouTuber Savukku Shankar amidst allegations of custodial torture.
A vacation bench comprising Justice AD Jagadish Chandira and Justice R Kalaimathi instructed the authority to submit the report by May 9, 2024, after learning that the DLSA had assigned three empanelled lawyers and a specialist doctor to assess Shankar’s health. This direction was given in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by Shankar’s mother, A Kamala, seeking a judicial inquiry into the alleged custodial torture of Shankar and requesting adequate medical treatment for him at a government hospital.
Shankar was arrested by the Coimbatore police on May 4 following a complaint by a woman journalist regarding defamatory remarks against women police officers. He was remanded to judicial custody until May 17. Shankar is facing charges under Sections 294(b), 509, 354D, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Harassment of Woman (Prevention) Act and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
Shankar’s mother alleged that the police had brutally attacked him while in custody, resulting in severe injuries and a fractured right hand. She further claimed that the prison authorities had failed to provide adequate medical treatment, which she argued was a violation of his fundamental rights.
During the hearing before the vacation bench, Senior Advocate John Sathyan, representing Shankar, argued that Shankar had no injuries when taken into custody, but now he had a fracture in his right hand, indicating possible custodial torture or violence. Sathyan urged the court to order Shankar’s appearance via video conferencing so that the court could assess his injuries. However, the court disagreed, stating that such an action would broaden the scope of the habeas corpus petition.
