Chennai, May 20 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu government has ordered the immediate release of YouTuber and journalist A. Shankar, popularly known as ‘Savukku’ Shankar, after the State Advisory Board concluded that there was no sufficient cause to continue his preventive detention under the Tamil Nadu Preventive Detention Act, 1982.
In an official order issued on Tuesday (May 19, 2026), the government directed authorities to release Shankar immediately, unless he was being held under any other law or serving a sentence following conviction in another case.
The decision came after the Advisory Board examined the grounds of detention placed before it under Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Preventive Detention Act.
The Board reviewed records submitted by the detaining authority and considered the detainee’s oral representation.
According to the government order, the Advisory Board unanimously held that there was no adequate justification to continue the detention of “Shankar @ Savukku Shankar”.
Following this recommendation, the State accepted the Board’s findings and issued the release order.
The latest development marks the third time Shankar’s preventive detention has been set aside, highlighting the prolonged legal battle surrounding the YouTuber and political commentator.
His first detention order had been quashed by the Madras High Court in August 2024.
However, shortly afterwards, he was detained again in connection with an alleged offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in Theni district.
More recently, Shankar had been facing multiple legal proceedings after being arrested in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, on April 8, 2026.
Authorities had accused him of an attempted murder case involving allegations that he pelted stones at police escort personnel who were accompanying him to Chennai following his arrest.
Last week, the Madras High Court granted him bail in that case, taking into account developments in the investigation.
With the government now revoking his preventive detention, Shankar’s release represents another significant turn in a series of legal and judicial proceedings involving the controversial YouTuber, whose arrests and detention orders have repeatedly attracted public and political attention.
–IANS
aal/dan