"Can't Hold Him" Indefinitely: Bombay High Court Asks UK-Based Doctor Booked For Posts On PM Modi To Assure Cooperation If Allowed To Fly Back

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday (April 15) ordered UK-based Doctor and YouTuber Dr Sangram Patil to file an undertaking spelling out that he will co-operate with the ongoing investigations against him for posting a 'defamatory' post on social media against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders. Single-judge Justice Ashwin Bhobe asked Patil to file an undertaking specifying that he will return to India, as and when, required by the Investigating Officer (IO) for further probe in the case, subject to, he being served a notice in 15 days advance. "On the next date, i.e. on May 5, we will consider the undertaking and decide the further course," Justice Bhobe made it clear to the parties. This comes after Advocate General Milind Sathe appearing for the Maharashtra Government informed the judge that the interim prayer of Patil to lift the Look Out Circular (LOC) should not be considered for at least 3 months as the investigation in the case is still going on. The AG assisted by Chief Public Prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh submitted that the probe team is yet to ascertain the link between Patil and the other social media handle - Shahar Aghadi which too had posted similar defamatory posts. Objecting to such a request, Justice Bhobe said, "You cannot hold a person like this... You will have to complete the probe which you have not done yet... Thus, he cannot be held like this."However, AG Sathe highlighted the fact that Patil being a foreign national, there were chances that he won't return to India for co-operating with the probe, if permitted to fly back to his home country. To this, Senior Advocate Rajiv Shakdher representing Patil informed the judge that his client will file an undertaking in the court that he will return whenever he is called by the I.O. He also highlighted the fact that he has a house here and also his parents are living in India, who too will be assuring his presence in India, whenever, required here. Shakdher also pointed out from their affidavit that his client Patil has also tendered an apology in the new affidavit. "On reflection my client has realised that the language used cannot be perceived to be harsh... But if it has hurt some sentiments, he regrets it..." Shakdher submitted. The senior advocate further urged, "This Court must consider the fact that I am a Consultant with the National Health Services, UK. I am here in India since January 2026 and was last called for interrogation by the police in January itself. If I do not resume my work there, I will be rendered jobless. I have a family there, my wife, my children all are there. Even my patients are waiting for my return."The judge therefore, sought to know from the AG as to what can be done in such a circumstances when the petitioner has pleaded apprehension of unemployment and the probe is not even completed yet. The AG then suggested that let Patil wait for 3 months and if in this period the probe isn't concluded, the court may then lift the LOC and permit him fly back to UK. Justice Bhobe, however, refused to accept the 3 months waiting suggestion and said that the issue would be considered in the next hearing on May 5.

"Can't Hold Him" Indefinitely: Bombay High Court Asks UK-Based Doctor Booked For Posts On PM Modi To Assure Cooperation If Allowed To Fly Back

Narsi Benwal

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