Santosh Pandit Arrested: Activist Detained in Pune Over Remarks Against Chandrakant Patil (Video)
Santosh Pandit was detained from his Pune residence early Thursday over alleged derogatory and defamatory remarks against Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil, police said. The activist had confronted BJP leader Gopichand Padalkar a day earlier over his vehicle’s high-security registration plate. Pandit later posted a video questioning the police action and treatment of activists.
Social media influencer and activist Santosh Pandit was detained from his residence in Pune in the early hours of Thursday, September 3, over alleged derogatory remarks against Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil, police said. Pandit, who has been raising civic issues and posting videos on social media, was taken into custody following a complaint by BJP leader Sunil Pandey.
The detention came a day after Pandit confronted ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gopichand Padalkar over the alleged absence of a mandatory high-security registration plate on his vehicle. The confrontation was recorded and circulated on social media, after which an audio clip purportedly involving Padalkar’s associates abusing Pandit also surfaced online. MPSC Drug Inspector Exam Leak: 7th Ranker Rutuja Patil Arrested by Mumbai Police.
Santosh Pandit Arrested
Pune, Maharashtra: YouTuber Santosh Pandit was arrested in Pune for allegedly posting obscene and objectionable content targeting Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Dada Patil and others. Police have registered a case and launched further investigation. pic.twitter.com/9FfD7Ftohu
— IANS (@ians_india) September 3, 2026
शहरातील समस्या युट्यूबद्वारे मांडणारे संतोष पंडित यांना मध्यरात्री पोलिसांनी अटक केली. पंडित यांनी
उच्च व तंत्र शिक्षणमंत्री चंद्रकांत पाटील यांच्याबद्दल अभद्र भाषेत टिप्पणी केल्याबद्दल पंडित यांच्यावर गुन्हा दाखल झाला होता. याप्रकरणी अटक झाल्याची शक्यता #Pune #Punenews pic.twitter.com/5kqe354vAH
— Brijmohan Patil (@brizpatil) September 3, 2026
Complaint Over Remarks Against Minister
Sunil Pandey, a BJP leader, lodged a complaint against Pandit over his remarks concerning Patil on August 30. Police said a video uploaded by Pandit on the social media account “Rajkaran Express” contained derogatory, abusive and allegedly defamatory remarks about Patil.
On August 30, police registered a case against two people, including Pandit, based on Pandey’s complaint. Pandit was booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 356, 296 and 3(5), relating to criminal defamation, public obscenity and joint criminal liability (common intention).
Pandit later released a video showing his detention and alleged that police treat activists unfairly. In the video, Pandit is seen handing over his keys to an associate and his mobile phone to police before being taken into custody.
He also appealed to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to take note of the police action. “If the police can knock on my door at 1am and take me away, what should a common man expect? Is this the way the administration wants to treat citizens who raise questions?” Pandit said in the video.
Runal Mulla, a police officer, said Pandit was taken into custody over his remarks against Patil as per the First Information Report lodged by Pandey. “He will be arrested soon as the process is underway,” Mulla said. Police said the case was registered based on the contents of the video posted by Pandit and the allegations made in the complaint.
The detention followed Pandit’s confrontation with BJP leader Gopichand Padalkar a day earlier. Pandit had allegedly questioned Padalkar over not having the mandatory high-security registration plate on his vehicle. The interaction was recorded and subsequently circulated on social media. An audio clip purportedly involving Padalkar’s associates abusing Pandit later surfaced online, adding another layer to the controversy.
Pandit has also faced a separate complaint in the past. In March, a woman accused him of allegedly abusing her, making objectionable comments about her attire, filming her without her consent, and behaving in a s*xually inappropriate and intimidating manner while covering a protest. Those allegations are separate from the current case involving his remarks against Patil.
Pandit has been known for using social media videos to raise civic issues and question public officials and political leaders. His latest detention has drawn attention because it followed his confrontation with Padalkar and the subsequent circulation of the interaction online.
The current case concerns alleged remarks against Patil, while police proceed with the arrest process based on the complaint filed by Pandey. The allegations against Pandit remain subject to the legal process, and the registration of a case does not by itself establish guilt.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 03, 2026 10:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
