British doctor Sangram Patil was detained at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Saturday due to allegedly derogatory social media posts regarding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leaders. Dr. Patil, a London-based British national of Indian origin and a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arrived in Mumbai early Saturday morning with his wife. He was held for over 15 hours based on a Look Out Notice (LOC) issued against him.
The detention triggered condemnation from opposition parties, including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which labeled it an “insult to the state’s honour.” Dr. Patil, who is also a content creator, was ultimately released after being served a notice relating to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, instructing him to join an ongoing investigation.
The legal troubles for Patil stem from a complaint filed in December by a BJP member, who accused him of making defamatory and misleading posts about the party and its leadership. The complaint alleged that these online comments had the potential to incite enmity and hatred among various groups.
Reports indicate that a case was registered against Dr. Patil by the cybercrime department under the Information Technology Act, leading to the issuance of a Look Out Circular, which law enforcement uses to track individuals wanted by the police when they are entering or leaving the country.
Dr. Patil’s social media presence is significant, with his YouTube channel boasting over 400,000 subscribers and 56 million views, while his Facebook page has more than 100,000 followers. His content often includes political commentary critical of the Modi administration.
In response to Dr. Patil’s detention, Harshwardhan Sapkal, the Maharashtra chief of the Congress party, questioned the state of democracy in India. He emphasized that the condemnation of Patil’s detention was insufficient and termed the incident an “international embarrassment for the country.” Sapkal urged the Mumbai Police and the Home Ministry to provide immediate clarification regarding the reasons for Dr. Patil’s detention.
This incident raises questions about freedom of expression and the treatment of dissenters in India as it continues to spark widespread discussion among political circles and civil rights advocates.
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