Activist detained over remarks against Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil
Influencer and activist Santosh Pandit has been raising civic issues and posting videos on social media
Santosh Pandit, a social media influencer and activist, was taken into police custody in Pune on Thursday morning. The reason for his detention was his alleged use of derogatory language against Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil. Pandit is known for his active engagement in civic issues, often sharing videos on social media.
The confrontation with Patil occurred the day prior, after Pandit criticized another ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Gopichand Padalkar. The incident was recorded and widely shared on social media platforms. An audio clip emerged later, purportedly featuring associates of Padalkar abusing Pandit.
In March, a woman had filed a complaint against Pandit, alleging that he had abused her, made inappropriate comments about her attire, filmed her without her consent, and behaved in a sexually inappropriate manner during a protest coverage. BJP leader Sunil Pandey filed a similar complaint against Pandit on August 30, regarding his remarks against Patil.
In a video response, Pandit recounted his own experience with the police. He claimed that activists are treated unfairly and showed himself handing over his keys to an associate and his mobile phone to the police before his arrest. Pandit addressed the chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, demanding an inquiry into the treatment of activists by the police. He questioned the administration's approach to citizens who raise questions, suggesting that it sets a dangerous precedent.
Following the incident, police registered a case against Pandit based on a complaint lodged by BJP leader Sunil Pandey. The officer involved stated that Pandit was taken into custody as per the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Pandey. He added that further legal proceedings are underway. Meanwhile, police registered a case against two individuals, including Pandit, in connection with the complaint filed by Sunil Pandey.
The charges include criminal defamation, public obscenity, and joint criminal liability, all under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 356, 296, and 3(5).
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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