Chennai: Madras high court has directed an expert medical board to be constituted to examine YouTuber Savukku Shankar’s health, about a month after he was released on bail on medical grounds.Directing Shankar to appear before the medical team on Feb 2 at 8am, a division bench of Justice P Velmurugan and Justice M Jothiraman asked the medical team to submit its report in a sealed cover to the court on or before Feb 3.
The bench, declining to cancel his interim bail at this stage owing to the medical records produced in the court, instead decided to impose ‘explicit restrictions’ to ensure that the liberty granted to Shankar is not misused. “Interim bail granted for a limited purpose, particularly on medical grounds, cannot be converted into a licence to engage in conduct that defeats the very object for which such concession was granted,” the court added.“Video journalists must adhere to high ethical standards to maintain public trust and credibility. In the digital age, they are on the front lines in combating misinformation and disinformation,” said the judges. They then directed Shankar to confine his movements strictly to the purpose of medical treatment and legal consultation, and not to engage in any activity that may impede or prejudice the investigation.“He shall not make any statement or comment in any manner regarding the cases under investigation through social media, electronic media, print media, or any public forum,” the bench said.The court further restricted him from contacting or communicating with the co-accused or any of the witnesses in the case, either personally or through any other means, and said he shall not attempt to influence, intimidate, or interfere with them in any manner.Any violation of the conditions shall be viewed seriously and may result in cancellation of the interim bail without further reference to this court, the judges said.
