‘Savukku’ Shankar is an absconding accused, Chennai police tell Madras High Court

The Greater Chennai City Police, on Tuesday (April 7, 2026), told the Madras High Court that YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar alias A. Shankar is an absconding accused who has now filed a couple of petitions seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in two criminal cases after the city police had completed investigation in both those cases and filed charge sheets against him.

The submissions were made before Justice M. Nirmal Kumar by Additional Public Prosecutor R. Muniyapparaj when those two petitions for transfer of investigation were listed before the judge for admission. However, since a junior counsel sought time for the appearance of his senior to represent the YouTuber, the judge adjourned the hearing on the petitions to April 27.

First case

The first case in which the petitioner had sought a CBI probe was the one registered by the Saidapet police in Chennai on December 12, 2025 on the basis of a complaint lodged by S. Harichandran, owner of a recreation club titled ‘No Name’ in the city. The complainant had accused the YouTuber of having made an illegal demand of ₹2 lakh from him even before the inauguration of the club.

When he refused to budge to the demand and approached the police, the complainant reportedly received another phone call from the YouTuber who abused him for having approached the police. The YouTuber also increased the demand to a one-time payment of ₹10 lakh apart from a monthly payout of ₹5 lakh in order to desist from damaging the reputation of the club on social media.

The complainant further claimed when he did not pay the demanded amount, the YouTuber posted a defamatory video along with his associates Malathy and Nithish Kumar. Thereafter, the complainant decided to pay ₹1 lakh but ended up transferring only ₹94,000 through G-pay due to a technical glitch. Immediately, the YouTuber called again over the phone and asked if he was a beggar to be given just ₹1 lakh, the FIR read.

Second case

The second case in which the YouTuber had sought a CBI probe was the one registered by the Adambakkam police in the city on July 2, 2025 on the basis of a complaint lodged by film producer P. Mahesh. This complainant had accused the YouTuber of having spread false information on social media that he had produced a movie titled Red and Follow using money earned through sale of narcotic drugs.

He too accused the YouTuber of having demanded ₹10 lakh to let him release the movie peacefully and alleged he was assaulted and abused when he went to meet the petitioner to pay ₹1 lakh on July 1 last year.

‘Savukku’ Shankar’s response

In his plea to transfer the investigation in these two cases to the CBI, Mr. Shankar stoutly denied all the allegations levelled against him by both the complainants.

He claimed to have been implicated in false cases because of the political animosity of the ruling dispensation coupled with the alleged personal grudge harboured against him by the Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police A. Arun. He said, the cases had been booked with the ulterior motive to silence him and prevent him from discharging his journalistic functions and duties.