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Delivering the order, Justice Ashwin Bhobhe accepted assurances from Patil and his family that he would return to India when required and cooperate with authorities
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Based on this undertaking, the court allowed him to travel back to the UK while the investigation continues
The Bombay High Court has permitted Indian-origin doctor Sangram Patil to return to the United Kingdom, directing the Maharashtra government to modify a lookout circular issued against him.
A lookout circular is a tool used by authorities to monitor individuals who may be wanted by law enforcement when entering or leaving the country. Patil had been stopped from flying back to London in January after such a notice was issued.
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The case stems from a complaint filed by Nikhil Bhamre, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
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He alleged that Patil had shared defamatory and misleading posts online about party leaders, which could promote division between communities
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Following this, the cybercrime department registered a case under the Information Technology Act
Patil, who has a significant online following, has posted political commentary, including criticism of the government led by Narendra Modi. He challenged the case in court, arguing that the action against him was politically motivated and an attempt to silence dissent.
In response, the Mumbai Police claimed Patil’s actions were part of a broader effort to post inflammatory material from abroad. Officials also said he had not fully cooperated with the investigation.
