A single bench of Justice K. Kumaresh Babu of the Madras High Court remarked that certain YouTube channels were purposefully disseminating disparaging content to increase their subscriptions, thereby posing a significant threat to society.

The judge’s remarks were made during the hearing of the anticipatory bail petition filed by G Felix Gerald, affiliated with the RedPix YouTube channel. Gerald faced charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act of 1988 following an interview with YouTuber Savukku Shankar.

After complaints surfaced regarding derogatory comments made by Shankar against women and female police officers during an interview, both Shankar and Gerald faced legal actions across the state.

Subsequently, Shankar was arrested by the Coimbatore Polic and has since been in custody at the Coimbatore Central Prison. Seeking protection from arrest, Gerald approached the High Court promptly.

However, during the recent hearing, Additional Public Prosecutor opposed Gerald’s petition, alleging that Gerald had facilitated Shankar’s defamatory remarks against women police officers during the interview.

Furthermore, the APP highlighted Gerald’s noncompliance with police summons.

In response, the Court indicated that Gerald should have been implicated as a co-accused alongside Shankar.

Consequently, the police were granted a week to prepare and submit a counter affidavit in response to Gerald’s plea for anticipatory bail.