On December 13th, the Chennai Police detained the popular YouTuber and commentator “Savukku” Shankar after a tense, multi‑hour standoff that culminated in a forced entry. Police reports say a squad was sent to his home following a complaint filed by a film producer alleging assault, extortion, and intimidation. Five other members of Shankar’s crew have also been charged in connection with the same accusations.
Initially, Shankar wouldn’t open his apartment door despite repeated pleas. He insisted that the officers discuss the matter with his lawyers first and only consent to a lawful arrest after they were briefed on the grounds. The barricade led to a prolonged showdown inside the unit, with footage shared online showing officers offering to provide the warrant and explain the case if presented by legal counsel. Nonetheless, the police maintained that they could not be thwarted while executing a court‑ordered arrest.
After hours of silence from inside, the police called in the Fire and Rescue Services. Firefighters subsequently forced the door open, allowing officers to breach the premises and take Shankar into custody. Earlier that day, Shankar had posted a clip on social media accusing the police of staging a “false and fabricated” case. He claimed the producer filed the complaint in October and that he had denied all allegations in a prior summons.
In the video, Shankar denied any role in assaulting the producer, claiming the $2 lakh seized from him was wrongful and that no money was demanded to silence his content. “None of these allegations is true. This case has been completely made up,” he stated. He also accused law enforcement of acting under orders from a senior official and of attempting to silence him. The police, meanwhile, stress that the arrest was lawful and that a full investigation of the complaint remains underway.
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