Activist, YouTuber Santosh Pandit's Arrest Over Critical Videos Of Leaders Sparks Free Speech Debate
Pune, Maharashtra: The YouTuber and activist Santosh Pandit was arrested recently after reportedly facing several FIRs for his videos against BJP Minister Chandrakant Patil and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The Pune police arrested Santhosh alleging that he used abusive and obscene language against the leaders including a female corporator. Officials arrested the activist from his Kothrud home around midnight. after the second complaint from a sanitation worker.
A court has remanded him until September 8 on charges of outraging modesty, defamation, and IT Act violations. The quick nighttime action has sparked calls for his release, protests in Pune, and debates on free speech versus legal limits when activists target officials.
Known for exposing civic scams, potholes and dangerous roads in the country, Santosh has exposed VIP rule violations and questioned those in power besides raising public-safety concerns on camera. With his arrest, several people have slammed the government for silencing his efforts instead of fixing the problems.
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.
Pandit was… pic.twitter.com/JFYQvprubs
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