No objection to LOC suspension against UK-based doctor if probe not completed: Maha Govt tells HC

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that it has no objection to lifting the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against UK-based doctor Sangram Patil if the investigation reports in the case against him are not received within three weeks.

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the police to finish their probe against UK-based doctor Sangram Patil, booked over his social media posts allegedly targeting BJP leaders, within three weeks, saying a person cannot be held indefinitely.   

Advocate General Milind Sathe stated that the probe would be completed within three weeks, failing which the police would have no objection to suspending the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Patil.

According to a recent PTI report, the doctor should, however, submit an undertaking to the court that he would appear before the police and cooperate with the probe as and when it is genuinely required, Sathe told the court.

Also Read:UK-based doctor Sangram Patil challenges FIR, alleges political motivation

A single bench of Justice Ashwin Bhobe accepted the submission and directed Patil to submit an undertaking and posted the matter for further orders on May 5.

Patil had filed a petition in the HC challenging an FIR and a Look Out Circular issued against him, due to which he was unable to travel to the UK.

The city police had booked Patil in December last year for his alleged objectionable remarks against BJP leaders.

Patil’s counsel Rajiv Shakdher told the court that the doctor has been stuck in India due to the FIR and LOC against him since January, and now faces the threat of losing his job in the UK.

“He regrets if his social media posts have hurt anyone’s sentiments. But it is like he is stuck in an open-air jail here,” Shakdher said, reports PTI.

When the bench asked Sathe as to how long the investigation would continue, the advocate general said it would take three months, as reports pertaining to Patil’s other social media posts are still awaited. 

Justice Bhobe, however, noted that three months was too long a time.

“You (police) cannot hold a person like this indefinitely… or you complete the investigation at the earliest,” the court said.

Sathe then said the probe would be completed in three weeks, failing which the police do not have an objection if the LOC is suspended.

“However, he should submit an undertaking that he would appear before the police as and when required for the investigation,” Sathe said.

Shakdher said Patil has no objection to submitting such an undertaking.

The high court posted the next hearing for May 5 to accept the undertaking and pass further orders regarding the lifting of the LOC.

Also Read:Bombay HC issues notice on London-based doctor's plea over posts targeting BJP