Indian-origin doctor booked for posts about BJP leaders to return to UK
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The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to amend a lookout circular issued against British doctor Sangram Patil, so that he can return to the United Kingdom, according to a report by Live Law.
A lookout circular is typically used by law enforcement agencies to monitor whether a person entering or leaving the country is wanted by the police.
Patil, who is also a content creator, was detained at Mumbai airport on January 10 after arriving from London over allegedly objectionable social media posts about leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He was later allowed to leave after being served a notice to join the investigation. However, on January 19, immigration authorities stopped him from flying back to London, citing the lookout circular, Scroll.in reported.
The action followed a complaint filed in December by BJP leader Nikhil Bhamre, who alleged that Patil had deliberately posted defamatory and misleading content about the party, which could incite enmity between groups.
Based on this complaint, the cybercrime department registered a First Information Report under the Information Technology Act and issued the lookout notice.
Patil, whose YouTube channel has over four lakh subscribers and whose Facebook page has more than one lakh followers, is known for posting political commentary, including criticism of the Narendra Modi government.
Challenging the action, Patil approached the court seeking to quash both the FIR and the lookout circular. In his plea, he argued that he was being targeted for political reasons and that the case amounted to a misuse of criminal law to curb dissent. He also sought a stay on further investigation, protection from coercive steps, and permission to return to the UK.
In response, the Mumbai Police, in an affidavit filed in February, claimed that Patil’s visit to India on a tourist visa and his online activities were part of what they described as a broader, organised effort to post defamatory and inflammatory material about the prime minister while residing abroad.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Raj Tilak Roushan reportedly stated that the matter was serious and required investigation, adding that Patil had not fully cooperated and had avoided handing over devices and credentials for forensic examination.
The police further argued that Patil’s presence in India was necessary, as tracking him would be difficult once he returned to the UK.
During the hearing, Justice Ashwin Bhobhe recorded undertakings submitted by Patil and his parents assuring the court that he would return to India and cooperate with the investigation whenever required. His parents also stood as guarantors in the matter.
The court subsequently directed the state government to modify the lookout circular by May 11 to allow Patil to travel back to his home country. While the interim plea was disposed of, the main petition seeking quashing of the FIR has been scheduled for hearing at a later date.