The Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, criticized a senior advocate for accusing a judge of bias in a criminal case involving YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar. The rebuke came during a hearing before a Division Bench, where the advocate claimed that Justice P. Velmurugan had shown bias against his client in a bail cancellation petition filed by the Greater Chennai City Police.
The Chief Justice emphasized that legal remedies like appeals should be used to challenge court orders, rather than resorting to mudslinging against judges during court proceedings. He expressed disappointment that a seasoned lawyer with 39 years of experience would make such allegations before a Bench. The Chief Justice clarified that any adverse orders should be contested following legal procedures and cautioned against misusing court proceedings for personal agendas.
The controversy arose from the interim bail granted to YouTuber Savukku Shankar in December 2025 by a vacation Bench. The police sought bail cancellation, arguing that Shankar’s health issues were exaggerated and that he had been making threatening videos post-release. During a recent hearing, the defence requested Justice Velmurugan’s recusal, alleging bias, which the judge denied, stating that recusal was unwarranted and that orders on the bail cancellation plea are awaited.
