The Supreme Court on Monday restored the bail granted to Youtuber Sattai Duraimurugan who allegedly made derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. The apex court stated that everyone who makes allegations on social media cannot be jailed.
“If we start putting everyone who makes allegations on YouTube behind bars, imagine how many will be jailed,” the top court bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, said.
Delivering the verdict, the Supreme Court bench said there was no evidence to suggest that YouTuber Duraimurugan Sattai misused the liberty granted to him.
“We do not think that by protesting and expressing views he can be said to have misused his liberty,” the bench remarked, adding, “Even otherwise, we are of the view that the grounds mentioned in the impugned order cannot constitute grounds for cancellation of bail,” the bench noted in its order.
According to NDTV, the court also did not entertain the request to impose a condition on Sattai to refrain from making scandalous remarks while on bail. Justice Oka challenged Mukul Rohatgi, asking who would determine if a statement is scandalous or not.
The development came after the court was hearing the plea filed by YouTuber Sattai, challenging a Madras High Court order that cancelled his bail. The High Court had observed that shortly after giving an undertaking before the court, based on which he was granted relief, Sattai had engaged in further offense by making derogatory remarks against the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
Following the High Court’s decision, the YouTuber approached the Supreme Court, which issued a notice on his plea in July 2022. The top court continued the bail granted to him in August 2021.
The Supreme Court’s ruling came days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, voting for which will be held across seven phases starting April 19. The results will be declared on June 4.
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