LOC Issued Against YouTuber Dr Sangram Patil To Safeguard India's Image, PM's Dignity: Mumbai Police Tells High Court

The Mumbai Police told the Bombay High Court that the criminal action against YouTuber and UK-based doctor Sangram Patil is not 'arbitrary' but it is only to 'safeguard' India's image and also the dignity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the international forum and also to protect national integrity.

For context, Patil has been made an accused in a First Information Report (FIR) lodged at the behest of BJP Media Cell head - Nikhil Bhamre on December 18, 2025. The FIR is based on some allegedly 'objectionable and defamatory' posts Patil made on his Facebook page against PM Modi and some BJP leaders, which Bhamre claimed were 'obscene posts.' Patil learnt about the said FIR only after he was prevented from flying back his home in UK, by the immigration authorities citing a pending Look Out Circular (LOC) against him.

Challenging the said FIR and the subsequent LOC, Patil has petitioned single-judge Justice Ashwin Bhobe seeking to quash the said proceedings and permit him to return to his home in UK. The judge had on a previous hearing issued notice to the city police and asked it to file an affidavit-in-reply to Patl's petition.

In the affidavit filed by Raj Tilak Roushan, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection), the Mumbai Police has pointed out that Patil circulated posts capable of promoting disharmony and enmity between communities, made indecent, derisive, degrading and salacious content related to the PM, attempted to evade Indian law enforcement by operating through foreign IP addresses and digital intermediaries and even continued uploading inflammatory and scandalous content even after initiation of investigation in the present case.

"I say that Petitioner Dr. Sangram Patil, a foreign national holding United Kingdom citizenship, has posted content on Facebook from his account making serious and scandalous allegations of a lascivious nature against the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India. I further say that during the same time frame. another Facebook account operating under the name Shahar Vikas Aghadi posted content linking the PM with a woman, accompanied by obscene remarks," the affidavit reads.

The Mumbai Police further pointed out that considering Patil's foreign residence and citizenship, his frequent international travel, cross-border digital operations, the high likelihood of evasion from investigation, and seriousness of offence which affects India's national integrity an LOC was issued on December 22, 2025 with instructions at immigration points to 'Detain and Hanover to Local Police.' It pointed out that the LOC was issued through competent authorities and in accordance with law only as a 'preventive and regulatory measure' in order to secure the presence of the accused who is a foreign national and to ensure that he does not abscond or evade due process of law.

"It is respectfully submitted that issuance of LOC is lawful, proportionate and necessary in the facts of the present ense. It is further respectfully submitted that the same is neither punitive nor arbitrary but only to facilitate investigation and safeguard image of the country and its top leadership at the international forum and to protect national integrity. I further say that on a prima facie assessment of the timing, content, location and similar narrative of the posts, it appears prima facie that both the two Facebook accounts were operated in a coordinated and concerted manner aimed at maligning and scandalising the image of PM hinting at high probability of common authorship, control, or conspiracy," the affidavit reads.

The city police has claimed that the present case is a matter of 'serious concern' and that it would want to unearth as to why a foreign citizen, despite being a qualified medical professional, visiting India on Tourist Visa has engaged in posting defamatory, scandalous, obscene, and inflammatory material without any substance and basis against the Prime Minister of India while residing outside the country.

"I say that at this stage, the possibility that such acts form part of a larger, organized effort in order to malign constitutional authority and disturb the public order, cannot be ruled out. It is on record that Petitioner has himself admitted during enquiry that he has posted the said post from his Facebook ID. I say that contention of the petitioner is that said post does not mention full name of any BJP leader but investigation has revealed that many other posts posted by petitioner on Facebook are also against the Prime Minister of India, a prominent national leader," the affidavit reads.

Further, the DCP has contended that it is necessary to investigate whether the accused, while being a foreign national, had any local assistance, collaborators, or handlers in India who facilitated or amplified the dissemination of such content on social media. particularly content that directly attacks the character and dignity of the Prime Minister of India.

"I say that investigation is required to ascertain the true purpose of the Petitioner's visit to India and to determine whether his activities, specifically the posting of defamatory. scandalous and inflammatory material on social media, are in violation of the conditions and limitations of the Tourist Visa under which he has entered into India," it is said.

The affidavit also highlights that Patil has been 'non-cooperating' with the probe team as he has refused to grant full access to his Facebook account, has given evasive answers, has claimed that the social media site cannot be accessed through phone as a 'one time password' would be received in his laptop, which is at UK.

The police has contended that Patil has engaged in - promotion of enmity and public mischief, circulation of false, scandalous, lascivious and inflammatory information, misuse of intermediary platforms, threats to sovereignty, integrity and public order and thus the FIR against him is justified.

The matter is likely to be taken up for hearing in the coming days.