Supreme Court sets aside bail condition on YouTuber Felix Gerald to shut down his channel

The Supreme Court on Friday set aside a direction issued by the Madras High Court to YouTuber G Felix Gerald to shut down his YouTube channel 'RED PIX 24x7’ as a condition for bail [Felix Jerald v State Rep By Inspector of Police].

The YouTuber had been booked by the Tamil Nadu police for broadcasting an interview with another YouTuber Savukku Shankar, in which derogatory remarks were made against women police personnel.

The Madras High Court granted Gerald bail in August but ordered him to shut down his YouTube channel as a bail condition. This condition was challenged by the YouTuber before the Supreme Court.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justice Manoj Misra on September 6 stayed the bail condition while issuing notice to the State of Tamil Nadu.

The Court today confirmed its interim order and set aside the bail condition.

Gerald was arrested in May this year by the Tamil Nadu Police from Noida in Uttar Pradesh, after he uploaded the controversial interview. The High Court then granted him bail on the condition that he shut down his video channel.

Though this condition was later stayed by the Supreme Court, CJI Chandrachud had taken exception to the comments made during the interview.

"Why did you hold such shows which are scurrilous casting such comments on judiciary, women police officers ... Why at all?" CJI Chandrachud had asked.

Several complaints had been made against Shankar as well as Gerald across Tamil Nadu following the interview.