Pune Police arrested social media influencer and YouTuber Santosh Pandit on Thursday in connection with allegedly defamatory, objectionable and abusive content targeting Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Chandrakant Patil and others. Pandit was taken into custody from his residence at around 1 am while they were investigating complaints on videos uploaded on social media.
The arrest came after a complaint was filed by Pune Corporator Sunil Pande, who is said to be a close associate of Chandrakant Patil. The complaint is on the basis of a video being said to contain abusive and derogatory remarks about the Maharashtra minister. Police said the video was posted on the social media account of Rajkaran Express on Thursday and received huge attention on an online video-sharing platform.
The video was allegedly recorded near SNDT College on Karve Road in Pune. Police said that Chandrakant Patil was not name-checked in the video but his picture was included in the content. Pandit was found to have used objectionable and obscene language while questioning the minister on development work and civic issues affecting residents of the Kothrud area, the FIR said.
Complaint Alleges Objectionable Remarks
The complainant has alleged that the video was intended to tarnish Chandrakant Patil's public image. Police have registered a case based on her claims and are investigating the video and the circumstances of its creation and publication.
Pandit has been booked under Sections 75(1)(iv), 75(3), 356(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, police said. Pandit already had a notice issued for him to cooperate with the investigation, authorities said.
The case illustrates how social media creators are increasingly being brought to justice for their words about public figures. Videos on YouTube can reach large audiences very fast, so complaints of defamation, abusive language or obscene content are likely to get police investigations if the law is applicable.
Separate Complaint Involving Remarks About Women
Pandit's arrest is also related to a separate complaint about allegedly obscene and abusive remarks about women in his YouTube videos. Pandit used offensive language while discussing development-related issues in the Kothrud area, the complaint said.
The complainant also said that some of the comments were directed at women and could be considered capable of outraging their modesty. Police subsequently filed a case based on the allegations and started an investigation into the videos and statements mentioned in the complaint.
Both cases are still being investigated. Registration of a case or arrest does not in itself establish guilt, and the allegations will have to be weighed through the legal process.
Pandit's Recent Controversies
The arrest comes a day after Pandit was also involved in another controversy involving BJP leader Gopichand Padalkar. Pandit had challenged the politician on his vehicle's alleged lack of a high-security registration plate.
The incident was part of an ongoing storm around the YouTuber and his social networking site. In another complaint made on August 30, BJP leader Sunil Pandey accused Pandit of making objectionable comments about Chandrakant Patil. Police then opened a case against two persons, including Pandit.
After his arrest, Pandit released a video in which he claimed that activists are treated unfairly by police. Footage of his detention was later posted on his social media account.
The video shows Pandit handing over the keys to his home to an associate and his phone to police staff before being arrested. The video has added another dimension to the controversy surrounding his arrest.
Police Continue Investigation
Police Inspector Anil Shivaji Mane is conducting the investigation into the matter. The complaints in question and the videos that were the basis of the cases are being investigated, they said.
Investigators will look into the content, the circumstances in which the videos were recorded and uploaded, and allegations made by the complainants. Police are also looking into the separate complaints of alleged remarks about women and comments about Chandrakant Patil.
The case comes as we are seeing more and more social media influencers and online content creators taking on responsibilities regarding politics, public officials and civic causes. Citizens and creators can ask questions about public administration on social media, but content that might not be legal is liable for complaints and investigations.
The Pune Police arrested social media influencer and YouTuber Santosh Pandit in the early hours of Thursday in connection with a case involving allegedly defamatory, objectionable and abusive content targeting Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Chandrakant Patil and others.
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) September 3, 2026
Pandit was… pic.twitter.com/JFYQvprubs
Santosh Pandit’s case is still being investigated. Based on the videos, complaints and other evidence collected in the cases, the police will decide what to do next. Any allegations against Pandit are allegations unless proven through due legal process.
