Mumbai police has alleged that UK-based doctor and YouTuber Dr Sangram Patil’s visit to India on a tourist visa and his online activity form part of a “larger, organised effort” to post defamatory, scandalous and inflammatory material about Prime Minister Narendra Modi while residing outside the country. [Sangram Patil v. State of Maharashtra & Ors.]
In an affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) termed it a matter of serious concern.
He said it warrants investigation as to why a foreign citizen, despite being a qualified medical professional in India on a tourist visa, was engaged in posting allegedly scandalous and obscene content online about the Prime Minister from abroad.
“At this stage, the possibility that such acts form part of a larger, organized effort in order to malign constitutional authority and disturb the public order, cannot be ruled out,” the affidavit said.
The affidavit also highlighted that the police is now trying to ascertain the true purpose of Patil’s visit to India.
It said the probe is also looking at whether he violated the conditions of his tourist visa.
“It is necessary to investigate whether the accused, while being a foreign national, had any local assistance, collaborators, or handlers in India who facilitated or amplified the dissemination of such content on social media, particularly content that directly attacks the character and dignity of the Prime Minister,” the affidavit said.
The affidavit added that for this reason, the police requires his presence within the country as it would be difficult to track him once he goes back to the UK.
The affidavit claimed that Patil continued to post derogatory and inflammatory content from his account even after coming to India.
“Among such posts is a provocative post wherein he has attempted to project an incident of violence that occurred within jurisdiction of MHB colony, Borivali, Mumbai as motivated and planned regional conflict, which has the potential to incite social disharmony,” the affidavit underscored.
The affidavit was filed in response to Patil’s criminal writ petition seeking quashing of an FIR registered in December 2025 and a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against him over alleged objectionable posts against BJP leaders.
The FIR, based on a complaint by BJP media cell functionary Nikhil Bhamre, alleged that posts promoted enmity and hatred between communities through electronic means via content posted on a Facebook page titled “Shehar Vikas Aghadi.”
Patil, a British national of Indian origin, has told the High Court that he is being targeted for political reasons and that the FIR is a misuse of criminal law to suppress dissenting political views.
His plea has challenged both the FIR and the LOC as illegal and seeks their quashing, a stay on further investigation, protection from coercive action, and permission to return to the UK.
The police have defended the investigation and alleged in their affidavit that Patil has not fully cooperated and has avoided submitting devices and credentials for forensic analysis.