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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.

RSS’s 99-Year Journey: From 1980 to a Vision for the Future

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

In 1980, the RSS emerged as a powerful political force, leveraging the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement to elevate Hindu nationalism and solidify its influence in shaping India’s socio-political landscape. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement catapulted the BJP and the RSS to national prominence by constructing the Lord Ram temple. It tapped into the religious sentiments of millions and became a rallying point for Hindu nationalism.

 

India’s Global Leadership

 The election of long-time swayamsevak and former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, as Prime Minister in 2014 marked a turning point in Indian politics and the RSS’s influence on national affairs. Modi’s leadership emphasised economic growth, national security, and cultural revival, with initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat positioning India as a global force. His foreign policy strengthened ties with major powers like the U.S., Russia, and Japan, while enhancing India’s role in world organisations.  The RSS has shaped Modi’s policies, especially in education, culture, and social welfare, with its affiliates involved in various development initiatives.


Nation-building

One of the most remarkable aspects of the RSS’s journey has been its consistent focus on social welfare and nation-building through a wide range of social initiatives at the grassroots level to improve the lives of ordinary Indians. Seva Bharati, an RSS affiliate, operates in underdeveloped regions, offering healthcare, education, and disaster relief.


Promotion of Education

The RSS’ Vidya Bharati network of schools promotes education in rural and semi-urban areas and emphasises Indian cultural values and national pride among students.


Through its various affiliate organisations, such as the Sanskriti Bharati and the Akhil   Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana, the RSS has worked to revive interest in India’s ancient history, languages, and traditions.


Vision for India

 The RSS sees India as a global leader that can offer a unique development model based on cultural values, economic self-reliance, and social harmony. It believes India’s rise as a global leader must be rooted in its civilisational values the principles of Dharma, truth, and justice that have guided Indian society for millennia. This vision of global leadership is not about dominance or hegemony but about offering a model of development that promotes sustainability, inclusivity, and human well-being.


Economic development

A key pillar of the RSS’s vision for India’s future is economic self-reliance, achieved by reducing dependence on foreign goods and fostering domestic industries and innovations This vision aligns with the Atmanirhar Bharat initiative launched by the Modi government, which seeks to make India self-sufficient in key sectors such as manufacturing, defence, and technology. The RSS believes that economic development must go hand in hand with social justice. The organisation is involved in initiatives aimed at empowering marginalised communities and promoting inclusive growth.

  

Cultural Leadership

 In addition to its economic aspirations, the RSS believes that India’s rich cultural heritage, rooted in the principles of Sanatana Dharma, has much to offer the world through values, philosophy, and way of life. It has been at the forefront of efforts to promote Indian culture and values globally. Through its affiliate organisations, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, the RSS has worked to connect the Indian diaspora with their cultural roots and promote a positive image of India abroad.

  

Humanitarianism

At the core of the RSS’s vision is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family, which envisions India as a peaceful, responsible global citizen contributing to world stability and welfare. The organisation has led relief efforts during COVID-19 and promoted peace both domestically and internationally.

 

The Future of the RSS

The challenge for the RSS will be to adapt to a rapidly evolving world while staying true to its core values. As India rises globally, the RSS’s role in shaping its destiny remains crucial in India, as well as global leadership and human welfare. The next phase of the RSS’s journey will bring new challenges and opportunities, but its commitment to service, discipline, and national pride will guide its path toward a strong and prosperous India—one that stands tall as a global leader and development model.


(The author is an official of Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Mumbai. Views personal)

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