The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on a plea filed by Tamil Nadu-based YouTuber Savukku Shankar, who has sought a CBI investigation into alleged financial irregularities in two state-run schemes meant for Scheduled Castes and sanitation workers.
A bench headed by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and comprising Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria issued the notice while hearing Shankar’s special leave petition challenging the Madras High Court’s refusal to transfer the investigation from the state police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The schemes in question — the Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme (AABCS) and the NAMASTE scheme — are designed to support entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes and improve the working conditions of sanitation workers. Shankar has alleged that both schemes were “hijacked by ineligible beneficiaries with the help of private players and political interference,” resulting in large-scale misappropriation of funds.
Shankar’s counsel also informed the court that the YouTuber’s house was vandalised shortly after he filed the petition seeking a CBI probe, indicating a potential attempt to intimidate him. “Because I raised these issues, my house was vandalised. I asked for a fair investigation by the CBI, but that was refused,” the counsel submitted.
Earlier, the Madras High Court had dismissed his petition, holding that referring the matter to the CBI could undermine the ongoing investigation by the state police. However, the High Court did direct the authorities to conclude the probe and file a final report within 12 weeks. It also ordered a re-evaluation of tender awardees under the scheme to ensure only eligible candidates benefited.
During Monday’s hearing, the Supreme Court bench also made a passing remark about Shankar’s past conviction for criminal contempt of court. “Earlier you were hauled up for contempt,” one judge noted. Shankar’s counsel responded that he had offered an unconditional apology. “That’s what everybody does—malign somebody, then offer an unconditional apology,” Justice Chandran observed.
The contempt conviction arose from comments made by Shankar during a 2022 YouTube interview, prompting a suo motu case by the Madras High Court, which sentenced him to six months in prison. Although released by the top court on September 25 last year, he was re-arrested under the Tamil Nadu Goondas Act.
As of May this year, Shankar has been facing nearly 15 criminal cases, including one filed in May over allegedly derogatory comments made in an interview on “RedPix 24×7” about women police personnel and Madras High Court judges.
The Supreme Court will take up the matter again after receiving responses from the concerned authorities.
