Detention for anti-BJP post: Bombay High Court clears path for UK doctor to rejoin family, patients in England
A single-judge bench of Justice Ashwin D Bhobe took on record undertakings filed by Patil and his parents, assuring his appearance as and when required during the probe and his cooperation with the investigation agency.
Nearly four months after he was detained for allegedly posting objectionable content against a BJP leader, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to modify the Look Out Circular (LOC) against UK-based doctor and YouTuber Sangram Patil (49) in the case, so that he can fly back to England by or after May 11.
A single-judge bench of Justice Ashwin D Bhobe took on record undertakings filed by Patil and his parents, assuring his appearance as and when required during the probe and his cooperation with the investigation agency.
He was booked for allegedly posting objectionable content against a BJP leader and was detained on January 10 upon his arrival at the Mumbai airport. On April 15, Advocate General (AG) Milind Sathe for the state government had said that it had no objection to lifting the LOC against Patil if the investigation reports pertaining to the case against him were not made available within three weeks.
The HC had then admitted Patil’s plea challenging the FIR and LOC. He had denied the allegations of posting the objectionable content.
Patil’s lawyers had claimed he was virtually “in an open-air jail” and his detention “resulted in there being a possibility of him being removed from his job” in the UK and he has a family including wife and a child in the UK and patients to look after.
Justice Bhobe had then told the government that it cannot hold a person for a longer time and sought completion of the investigation at the earliest.
On Tuesday, senior advocate Rajiv Shakdher and advocates Ujjwalkumar Chavhan and Aditya Hire for Patil told the bench that he had filed an undertaking stating that he will “not evade or avoid the process of law and shall participate in the investigation proceedings in good faith and as required.”
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Patil, a UK citizen employed in the National Health Service (NHS) UK as a consultant doctor, had added that “travelling back to India requires reasonable prior intimation to enable compliance without compromising his professional duties and obligations.” However, he said that 15-day notice was “sufficient for him to travel back to India again to join the probe.”
The court accepted Patil’s statement on undertaking, after AG Sathe said that the authority was satisfied with it and will modify the LOC to enable his UK travel, as the probe is still on.
“By virtue of this, he would be able to travel outside India and instructions will be issued to competent authorities on or before May 11,” Sathe stated.
The court then ordered modification of LOC and is likely to hear Patil’s main plea next in June 2026.
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
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Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.
Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:
Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:
Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).
Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).
Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.
Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.
Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.
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