The doctor, identified as Dr Sangram Patil, a British citizen of Indian origin and native of Jalgaon, arrived in India on January 10 and was initially stopped at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, where he was questioned for around 15 hours. He was again detained on January 16 while attempting to fly to Manchester, with authorities refusing to allow him to leave the country. On Wednesday, January 21, he faced another six-hour interrogation.
Also Read:London-based doctor detained at Mumbai airport over social media post trageting BJP
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that London-based doctor and popular YouTuber Sangram Patil was detained at Mumbai International Airport over a social media post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, a police official said.
A crime branch officer confirmed that the doctor had approached the Bombay High Court. “The petition seeks quashing of the First Information Report and cancellation of the LOC,” the officer said, adding that the matter is expected to come up for hearing soon, reports Hindustan Times.
Speaking to the Indian Express, the doctor said, “While they had summoned me on Thursday, I requested that they record my statement on Wednesday. They questioned me regarding the device from which I uploaded the post and sought access to my social media accounts. Nowhere have I denied that the post was uploaded by me.” He added, “One of the posts mentioned in the FIR was originally posted by a page called Shehar Vikas Aghadi. I do not know who runs that page, but the person deleted the post. I have approached the Bombay High Court for relief.”
The FIR against the doctor was registered at the NM Joshi Marg police station on December 18, following a complaint by a social media coordinator of the Maharashtra BJP. The complainant stated that he came across an objectionable post online, raised the matter with party leaders, and then approached the police.
According to a police officer, the LOC was issued after the doctor’s earlier appearance before the police on January 15. During that session, he submitted a written statement but allegedly refused to respond to a detailed questionnaire. The police have also sought information from Facebook regarding the identity of the person running the Shehar Vikas Aghadi account.
Also Read:Ayurveda practitioner fined Rs 50,000 for misleading social media claims
The doctor is facing an FIR under section 353(2) of the BNS, which stands for statements containing false information that would lead to feelings of enmity and hatred between communities. The section carries a maximum punishment of three years, reports the Indian Express. The investigation into the matter is currently ongoing, while the Bombay High Court is expected to hear the doctor’s plea challenging the LOC in the coming days.
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.