Supreme Court: In a special leave to appeal filed by YouTuber Sattai Duraimurugan , against the Madras High Court, wherein the Court cancelled his bail for making derogatory statements against Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu-MK Stalin, noting that the social media intermediaries should ensure that the content uploaded on their platform complies with their policies , the division bench of Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan. JJ. has restored his bail and said that he did not misuse his liberty by protesting and expressing his views.
It was alleged that Sattai and other members of the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) party gathered in violation of COVID-19 norms after they were denied permission for a protest. During this gathering, he allegedly made derogatory remarks against CM Stalin. The complainant, a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party (‘DMK’), saw Sattai’s speech on a YouTube Channel called Ravana, in which CM Stalin was mocked. Thereafter, Sattai was arrested by the police. However, later, the High Court had granted him bail on the condition that he would not make any derogatory remarks against anyone. Thereafter, the State Government moved the High Court seeking cancellation of bail on the ground that even after filing an undertaking Sattai continued to make derogatory remarks against the Chief Minister. Thus, the High Court cancelled his bail. Aggrieved, Sattai filed this SLP.
The Bench remarked that “if before elections, we start putting everyone behind bars who makes allegations on YouTube, imagine how many will be jailed? And who decides what is scandalous? Look at the bigger picture.”
The Court refused to pass any directions on imposing conditions on Sattai, asking him not to make any scandalous remarks while on bail.
Source: Press
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