Bombay High Court Issues Notice On YouTuber Dr Sangram Patil's Plea Against FIR Over 'Objectionable Posts' On PM Modi

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (January 22) issued notice to Maharashtra Government on a plea by YouTuber and United Kingdom (UK) based doctor Sangram Patil, booked for allegedly making 'objectionable' social media posts against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders.

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.

Justice Ashwin Bhobe issued notice to the State and asked them to file their reply, if any on the next date of hearing.

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.

The hearing in the instant case is likely to take place on February 4.