Mumbai, January 11, 2026: London-based doctor and YouTuber Sangram Patil was briefly detained at Mumbai international airport on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in connection with a defamation case filed by BJP media cell functionary Nikhil Bhamre.
The complaint was filed last month at N M Joshi Marg police station, alleging that Patil circulated false information about the ruling party and made insulting comments. According to police, objectionable content was posted from two Facebook accounts, one of which belonged to Patil. The complaint further claimed that such content could incite hostility and animosity among different sections of society. Investigations have been ongoing since the case was registered.
A police official confirmed that he was detained by the crime branch and served notices under Section 35 (3) of BNSS, which allows authorities to issue appearance notices instead of arrest for offences carrying shorter jail terms. Officials emphasized that he was not formally arrested.
Dr. Patil and his wife, who is also a doctor, were questioned upon arrival from London and released after a preliminary inquiry. "Dr. Patil was detained upon his arrival from London. He and his wife were questioned and subsequently released after preliminary investigation," the official said.
Dr. Sangram G Patil, originally from Maharashtra, is now a British citizen. He and his wife have been settled in London for several years.
The action has drawn sharp criticism on social media. Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Vasantrao Sapkal condemned the move, contrasting it with the state government's handling of the Badalapur minor rape case.
"We condemn this arrest in the strongest words. We demand why BJP and its leaders are intolerant of criticism against them. In a democracy, each citizen has the right to find loopholes and criticise the government and the leaders who are in power," he said, describing the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ conduct as completely autocratic.
(Rh/VK)
