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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.

Shinde Sena’s Rahool Kanal, 19 Others Booked for Vandalising Mumbai Comedy Club

Attack follows Kunal Kamra’s jibe at Eknath Shinde; Sena MP calls him a ‘hired comedian’

Mumbai’s comedy scene turned into a battleground after a stand-up performance by Kunal Kamra sparked outrage among Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) supporters. The comedian’s remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde—where he referred to him as a ‘traitor’ while referencing the song Dil To Pagal Hai—went viral, triggering a backlash.


Following the uproar, Shiv Sena (Shinde) Yuva Sena General Secretary Rahool Kanal and several party workers allegedly vandalised The Habitat Comedy Club in Khar West, located inside The Unicontinental Mumbai hotel. An FIR has been registered against Kanal and 19 others under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Police Act. The charges include rioting, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation, trespassing, and obstructing government work, with police invoking 13 legal provisions against the accused.


Authorities stated that the case involves 30 to 40 party workers, including Kanal and Kunal Sarmalkar. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske dismissed Kamra as a "hired comedian" allegedly paid to attack their leader. "Kunal Kamra is just a mouthpiece for money. He cannot freely move anywhere in India—Shiv Sainiks will ensure he faces consequences," Mhaske declared.


Mhaske also took a swipe at the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) faction and its leader Sanjay Raut, claiming they had resorted to using comedians for political attacks due to a lack of party members. "Sena (UBT) has no workers left, so they’re hiring people like Kamra to do their bidding," he alleged.


In the wake of the vandalism, Shiv Sena (Shinde) workers gathered at Khar Police Station to file a complaint against Kamra, demanding his arrest. The party has also threatened legal action if the comedian does not issue a public apology.

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