Recently, the Supreme Court issued a stay on a Madras High Court order requiring YouTuber G Felix Gerald to shut down his channel 'RED PIX 24x7' as a bail condition. This directive had been given following Gerald's arrest for airing an interview with derogatory remarks about female police officers.

Last month, the High Court had imposed the condition on Gerald’s bail, following an interview with YouTuber Savukku Shankar, who made derogatory remarks about female police personnel. Gerald, who was arrested in May by Tamil Nadu Police in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, faced this directive as part of his bail conditions.

Today, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, expressed their disapproval of the interview.

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

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who is representing Gerald, acknowledged that the comments made in the interview were in poor taste.

"I have 2.6 million subscribers and it is a news channel. This show will demoralise women police officers and it should not happen.. but the bail condition imposed...," the counsel said.

The Court then announced that it would consider Gerald's plea challenging the bail condition alongside Shankar's petitions concerning preventive detention and criminal cases.

"Issue notice. Stay the bail condition which was to close down the YouTube channel. Let all other bail conditions be followed," the Court ordered.

Last month, the High Court granted bail to Gerald, who had been charged by the Coimbatore cyber-crime police in connection with the interview. Following the interview, several complaints were lodged against both Shankar and Gerald across Tamil Nadu. On June 24, Justice Thamilsevi had previously dismissed Gerald's bail application, agreeing with the prosecution that by interviewing Shankar and broadcasting the interview, Gerald had effectively provided Shankar with a platform to make the derogatory remarks.