́ʼHow many will be jailed before elections?ʼ, SC asks TN govt while restoring Youtuber's bail
New Delhi (PTI): Observing that everyone who makes allegations on social media cannot be put behind bars, the Supreme Court on Monday restored the bail to a YouTuber who was accused of making derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in 2021.
"If before elections we start putting behind bars everyone who makes allegations on YouTube, imagine how many will be jailed?"a bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, as it set aside the order cancelling A Duraimurugan Sattai's bail,
The apex court said that the accused did not misuse his liberty by protesting and expressing his views and also rejected the request of the state government to impose a condition on Sattai to refrain from making scandalous remarks while on bail.
The court was hearing Sattai's plea challenging an order of the Madras High Court which cancelled his bail as he had made certain derogatory remarks against Stalin in violation of an undertaking given to the court.
While seeking bail in a case, Sattai had submitted an affidavit to the court undertaking that he would not pass derogatory remarks against anyone.
Sattai was arrested by the police for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Stalin and others but had been granted conditional bail.
"Scientific inventions are made for the welfare of mankind. The Internet is one such wonderful invention that has transformed the lives of many.
"Even an ordinary man is uploading his day-to-day activities, skills, thoughts, travel experiences on YouTube. In fact, in modern society, in most families, everyday meals are prepared using the videos uploaded on YouTube," the high court had said.
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Mangaluru positioned as Emerging Growth Hub at Vertex CXO Conclave 2026
Mangaluru: The Vertex CXO Conclave 2026, organised by Vertex Workspaces, was held at the Dr. TMA Pai International Convention Centre, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and senior executives to deliberate on opportunities for business expansion beyond Bengaluru, with a focus on establishing Mangaluru as a viable centre for enterprise and technology-led growth.
Senior officials from the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) and the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) presented policy frameworks aimed at promoting investment in non-metropolitan regions. Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, IAS, Managing Director of KITS, along with Samir Venugopal, Bharath Chandra B. K., and Vaishak Pai from KDEM, outlined incentives pertaining to infrastructure development, talent advancement and regulatory facilitation to encourage companies to expand beyond established urban centres.
Vinayak Palanakar, Chief Marketing Officer of Vertex Workspaces, stated that the organisation seeks to evolve beyond its role as a workspace provider by fostering an enabling ecosystem for business growth. He emphasised the importance of integrating policy support, talent availability and industry collaboration, and noted that the company aims to assist enterprises operating within its ecosystem in accessing government incentives while addressing key challenges such as recruitment and talent acquisition.
Speakers at the conclave highlighted Mangaluru’s strengths, including a strong educational base, improving infrastructure and an expanding presence of information technology firms and Global Capability Centres. At the same time, they underscored the need to address challenges relating to talent retention, ecosystem maturity and enhanced industry collaboration.
Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno, observed that while the Mangaluru–Udupi region has a consistent supply of entry- and mid-level talent, there remains a gap in the availability of senior-level professionals. He stressed the importance of structured hiring strategies and strengthening local ecosystems to mitigate workforce migration to larger urban centres.
Deliberations also indicated that although awareness regarding government incentives is increasing, there remains a need for greater clarity in processes and implementation mechanisms to enable effective utilisation. Vertex Workspaces reiterated its commitment to facilitating access to such frameworks and supporting businesses in connecting with appropriate talent networks.
A memorandum of understanding was signed on the occasion to enhance collaboration among stakeholders and support business expansion in the region.
In his concluding remarks, Gurudatta Shenoy, Managing Partner of Vertex Workspaces, stated that the initiative would extend beyond the conclave through continued leadership engagements, hiring platforms and policy-oriented initiatives aimed at supporting enterprises in emerging markets.
The event also featured Vertex Ashoka, an infrastructure initiative designed to support enterprise and Global Capability Centre operations, further reinforcing Mangaluru’s growing profile as a business destination.
