SC grants bail to YouTuber, says "How many will be jailed before polls?"

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday restored the bail granted to YouTuber 'Sattai' Durai Murugan, accused of making a derogatory speech against Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin in 2021.

"Imagine how many will be jailed" before elections if those making allegations on social media platforms like YouTube are put behind bars, said a bench comprising justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan.

The bench further said, look at the "bigger picture" and questioned who would decide what is scandalous. Murugan did not misuse his liberty by protesting and expressing his views and did not find grounds to cancel his bail, the bench said, quashing the HC order which had cancelled the bail.


The prosecution had said Murugan and some other members of Naam Tamilar Katchi gathered in violation of Covid-19 norms after they were denied permission to stage a protest. Murugan made 'derogatory remarks' with intention to breach public peace and tranquility, during the meeting, the prosecution alleged.

Murugan was arrested in October 2021. He was granted bail by a single bench of the Madras high court in November 2021 and the same was cancelled by a division bench. However, in 2022, SC granted interim bail to Murugan. He has been out on bail since then. On Monday, SC made the bail regular and quashed the HC order.