How Many Will Be Jailed If Arrests Are Made On Allegations On YouTube? SC Asks Tamil Nadu Govt

The Supreme Court on Monday quashed the Madras High Court's order cancelling the bail of YouTuber 'Sattai' Durai Murugan.

The apex court restored the bail and said, "If before elections we start putting behind bars everyone who makes allegations on YouTube, imagine how many will be jailed? And who decides what is scandalous? Look at the bigger picture."

A Bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan stated that the said YouTuber did not misuse his liberty by protesting and expressing his views. "Leave granted. By impugned order, benefit of bail granted to appellant was cancelled. This Court continued interim bail earlier; he continues to be on bail for 2.5 years...All the same, we do not find grounds to cancel bail. We thus quash the High Court order cancelling bail, and restore the earlier order granting bail. Needless to say, cancellation of bail can be applied for if deemed fit," the order stated.

The court was hearing Sattai's appeal against a Madras High Court order that revoked his bail. The High Court had cancelled his bail after observing that shortly after providing an undertaking in court, which led to his release, Sattai committed another offence and made disparaging remarks about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.

In November 2021, the Madras High Court granted bail to Murugan. However, this bail was later revoked by a Division Bench of the High Court. Nonetheless, in 2022, the Supreme Court provided Murugan with interim bail, allowing him to remain out on bail ever since.

As per the prosecution, the YouTuber and other members of the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) violated COVID-19 through a gathering as the local administration denied permission to stage a protest. In the protest, Murugan mounted derogatory remarks.

Based on a complaint filed by a DMK member, the police registered a case, leading to Murugan's arrest in October 2021.