Pune-based YouTuber and social media influencer Santosh Pandit was arrested by Pune Police in the early hours of Thursday, September 3, following complaints over allegedly objectionable and abusive content posted on social media targeting Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil and a woman corporator.
Pandit is a public figure who frequently uses social media to communicate civic issues in Pune -- potholes, damaged roads, development-related issues and violations of traffic rules. His arrest has now raised questions about the limits of online speech, defamation and the right to raise questions about public representatives.
Santosh Pandit arrested from Pune residence
According to police and media reports, Pandit was picked up from his residence at around 1 am on Thursday. That followed complaints about videos that allegedly contained obscene, derogatory and abusive remarks.
A separate complaint was filed in connection with a video targeting Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil. Police are investigating the videos, their circulation and the circumstances surrounding their publication.
Some of the content went beyond criticism of public representatives and included offensive language and gestures, the complaint alleged. Another complaint was regarding alleged obscene remarks about women.
Cases registered under BNS and IT Act
Police registered a case at Kothrud Police Station under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. Reports said the provisions cited were Sections 75(1)(iv), 75(3), 356(2) and 352 of the BNS.
Police are examining the videos, their reach, and the circumstances in which they were uploaded and circulated, they said.
According to Hindustan Times, Pandit was produced before a court and remanded to custody until September 8. Pune police said the action was based on complaints about the content uploaded online.
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
Arrest sparks debate over freedom of expression
Pandit has been arrested, and opposition leaders and supporters say that the move could have implications for freedom of expression.
Pune city Congress president Prashant Jagtap also criticised the arrest and claimed that the government was trying to suppress voices raising civic concerns. Former Congress legislator Yashomati Thakur also criticised the manner in which Pandit was arrested and raised concerns over freedom of expression.
But police have said the action was taken following complaints of allegedly objectionable content and that people should avoid posting abusive or objectionable material on social media.
Who is Santosh Pandit?
Santosh Pandit has built an online following through his coverage of municipal and public-interest issues in Pune. His videos have typically featured potholes, road conditions, transport issues, development projects, and political leaders.
The controversy surrounding his arrest has therefore attracted attention beyond the immediate legal case. Police are now investigating the allegations in the complaints, but the incident also reignited discussion about how criticism of public officials should be handled in the digital age.
All of this is now likely to remain under judicial investigation, and the court will have to judge the allegations and evidence. For now, Pandit’s case is being investigated, and police are still trying to work with the social media content in question.
