Mumbai: British doctor Sangram Patil, who is critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, was detained at Mumbai airport on Saturday over alleged derogatory social media posts about the saffron party, Maktoobmedia.com reported.
The London-based British national of Indian origin arrived along with his wife at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport early in the morning when he was detained for over 15 hours.
Calling it an’ insult to the state’s honour’, the Opposition parties condemned the detention, which came on the basis of what the report said a Look Out Notice (LOC).
After serving him a notice under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, authorities allowed Patil to go alongside directing him to join the probe at a later date.
A member of the BJP had filed complaint against Patil who is also a content creator, in December accusing him of deliberately making ‘defamatory and misleading posts’ about BJP and its leaders.
The complaint said that the doctor’s posts could create enmity and hatred between groups.
It is reported that the cybercrime department filed a case against Patil under the Information Technology Act, before issuing a lookout notice for him.
Law enforcement authorities use lookout notice to see if persons arriving and leaving the country are wanted by the police.
Patil’s YouTube channel has garnered more than four lakh subscribers alongside 5.6 views in addition to his one lakh followers on Facebook.
His posts covers political commentary that are particularly critical of the Narendra Modi government.
Seeking explanation for Patil’s detention, Congress’ Maharashtra chief Harshwardhan Sapkal wondered if “democracy was still alive” in India.