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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

YouTuber challenges FIR, LoC in HC

Mumbai : The Bombay High Court issued notice to the state government on a petition filed by UK-based medico and YouTuber, Dr. Sangram Patil, seeking to quash a Mumbai Police FIR and revoking a Look Out Circular in a criminal case lodged against him, on Thursday.   Justice Ashwin D. Bhobe, who heard the matter with preliminary submissions from both sides, sought a response from the state government and posted the matter for Feb. 4.   Maharashtra Advocate-General Milind Sathe informed the court...

YouTuber challenges FIR, LoC in HC

Mumbai : The Bombay High Court issued notice to the state government on a petition filed by UK-based medico and YouTuber, Dr. Sangram Patil, seeking to quash a Mumbai Police FIR and revoking a Look Out Circular in a criminal case lodged against him, on Thursday.   Justice Ashwin D. Bhobe, who heard the matter with preliminary submissions from both sides, sought a response from the state government and posted the matter for Feb. 4.   Maharashtra Advocate-General Milind Sathe informed the court that the state would file its reply within a week in the matter.   Indian-origin Dr. Patil, hailing from Jalgaon, is facing a criminal case here for posting allegedly objectionable content involving Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on social media.   After his posts on a FB page, ‘Shehar Vikas Aghadi’, a Mumbai BJP media cell functionary lodged a criminal complaint following which the NM Joshi Marg Police registered a FIR (Dec. 18, 2025) and subsequently issued a LoC against Dr. Patil, restricting his travels.   The complainant Nikhil Bhamre filed the complaint in December 2025, contending that Dr. Patil on Dec. 14 posted offensive content intended to spread ‘disinformation and falsehoods’ about the BJP and its leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.   Among others, the police invoked BNSS Sec. 353(2) that attracts a 3-year jail term for publishing or circulating statements or rumours through electronic media with intent to promote enmity or hatred between communities.   Based on the FIR, Dr. Patil was detained and questioned for 15 hours when he arrived with his wife from London at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Jan. 10), and again prevented from returning to Manchester, UK on Jan. 19 in view of the ongoing investigations.   On Wednesday (Jan. 21) Dr. Patil recorded his statement before the Mumbai Police and now he has moved the high court. Besides seeking quashing of the FIR and the LoC, he has sought removal of his name from the database imposing restrictions on his international travels.   Through his Senior Advocate Sudeep Pasbola, the medico has sought interim relief in the form of a stay on further probe by Crime Branch-III and coercive action, restraint on filing any charge-sheet during the pendency of the petition and permission to go back to the UK.   Pasbola submitted to the court that Dr. Patil had voluntarily travelled from the UK to India and was unaware of the FIR when he landed here. Sathe argued that Patil had appeared in connection with other posts and was not fully cooperating with the investigators.

Paank condemns enforced disappearance of seven baloch civilians by Pakistani forces in Mastung and Gwadar



Geneva: Paank, the human rights sector of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), has voiced serious apprehension and vehemently denounced the disturbing surge of enforced disappearances executed by Pakistani security forces on June 1, across several areas in Balochistan's Mastung and Gwadar districts.



As reported in a post by Paank on X, a minimum of seven individuals were forcibly taken from their residences during early morning raids conducted without legal authority or due process. Khalil Ahmed, the son of Haji Muhammad Ibrahim Shahwani, a tuberculosis patient and resident of Killi Kongadh in Mastung, was abducted from his home around 3 AM. Muhammad Wafa, the son of Haji Muhammad Ashraf Shahwani, was taken late at night from Khadkocha Tehsil in Mastung. Asim Farooq, the son of Ghulam Farooq and a professional driver, was taken from Killi Kariz Sur in Mastung at 1 AM. Aurangzeb, the son of Muhammad Umar Muhammad Shahi, was forcibly disappeared from his home in Killi Azizabad, Mastung, at 2 AM.



Levies Sepai Ghulam Jan, the son of Ghulam Sarwar Shahwani, who lived in Azizabad No 2, Mastung, was taken at 3 AM. Rashid Baloch, the son of Fateh Khan and a resident of the Kuldan area in Dasht of Gwadar District, was also taken from his home. Murad Jan, the son of Lal Muhammad and a resident of Kuldan, Dasht, Gwadar, was forcibly disappeared by security forces, as stated in Paank's post.



Paank stressed that these events are indicative of a continuing systematic approach of oppression, intimidation, and human rights abuses by Pakistani forces in Balochistan. The victims include not only ordinary citizens but also personnel from law enforcement, like the Levies, highlighting the expanding range of targeted abductions.



Paank has urged international human rights organisations and the United Nations to intervene swiftly, demand the immediate release of all the disappeared individuals, and ensure accountability for these violations from the Pakistani state.

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