'Modify LOC': Bombay High Court Paves Way For Return Of UK-Based YouTuber Sangram Patil Booked For 'Objectionable' Posts Against PM Modi

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (May 5) asked Maharashtra Government to modify the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against UK-based Doctor & YouTuber Dr Sangram Patil–booked for making 'objectionable' posts against Prime Minister Narendra Modi –so that he can fly back to his home country by Monday.

Patil is booked in a FIR for allegedly posting defamatory posts against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders. 

Justice Ashwin Bhobhe took on record the affidavits-cum-undertakings filed by Patil and his parents, who have stood as an assurance to the court that as and when required, Patil would come to India and co-operate with the prosecution.

The court heard senior advocate Rajiv Shakdher who appeared for Patil and Advocate General Milind Sathe for Maharashtra Government.

The judge, has ordered the State to modify the LOC by Monday (May 11), so that Patil can fly back to his home country. The interim petition was disposed of, while the main matter seeking quashing of the FIR is listed post summer vacation. 

Earlier in January the high court had issued notice to the State Government on Patil's plea challenging the FIR. 

A British national of Indian origin Patil, who had been to Mumbai recently, learnt about the FIR lodged against him at the NM Joshi Marg Police Station in the city after he was prevented to fly back his home, by the immigration authorities citing a pending Look Out Circular (LOC) against him. The FIR is lodged at the behest of BJP Media Cell head - Nikhil Bhamre on December 18, 2025.

In his plea through senior advocate Sudeep Pasbola, Patil has challenged the LOC and also the FIR and has urged the court to quash the same. By way of interim relief, Patil has urged the court to stay the investigation in the case and also restrain the prosecution from taking any coercive action such as filing chargesheet etc in the case, till further orders. He has also urged the court to permit him from traveling back to his home at UK.

According to Bhamre's complaint, while browsing social media, he came across some "objectionable content" which resulted into "disinformation" about the BJP and its prominent leaders on a Facebook page titled Shehar Vikas Aghadi. He further alleged that Patil had shared or amplified this content with the intent to spread misinformation and incite hostility against his party leaders.

Therefore, the NM Joshi Marg Police Station lodged an FIR under section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which penalises any act or attempt to spread false information to incite enmity between groups and is also a non-bailable offence.Notably, Patil was initially detained by the Mumbai Police upon his arrival at the city's international airport on January 10, from London. And on January 19, the immigration department, citing LOC prevented him from flying back to London, sequently on January 21, he got his statements recorded before the police.

Case title: Sangram Patil v State of Maharashtra 

Criminal Writ Petition 343 of 2026