YouTuber Santosh Pandit arrested in Pune over obscene posts targeting Maha Minister
Synopsis
YouTuber Santosh Pandit was arrested at his Pune home in the early hours of Thursday after allegedly posting obscene, sexually suggestive videos targeting Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil — content that racked up over 12 lakh views. Crucially, this is his second case over remarks targeting the same minister, signalling a pattern that police are now treating as a recurring law-and-order issue.
Key Takeaways
Santosh Pandit was arrested from his Pune residence at approximately 1.28 am on 3 September by Kothrud police .
The case was filed on a complaint by Sarika Ram Kamble , alleging obscene and defamatory videos targeting Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil and corporator Mitali Kuldeep Salvekar .
One video referencing CM Devendra Fadnavis had received more than 12 lakh views ; another targeting Patil and Salvekar had 4.53 lakh views .
Case registered under Sections 75(1)(iv), 75(3), 356(2), 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 67 of the IT Act, 2000 .
This is the second case against Pandit over alleged offensive remarks targeting Chandrakant Patil ; an earlier case was filed at Deccan police station .
Social media influencer and YouTuber Santosh Pandit was arrested from his residence in Pune in the early hours of Thursday, 3 September, in connection with allegedly posting obscene and sexually suggestive content targeting Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil and Pune Municipal Corporation corporator Mitali Kuldeep Salvekar. The arrest was made by Kothrud police following a complaint filed by a local resident.
How the Case Was Filed
The case was registered at approximately 1.28 am on Thursday on a complaint lodged by Sarika Ram Kamble, 36, a resident of Kothrud. According to the complaint, Pandit allegedly uploaded objectionable posts and videos on his YouTube channel, @SantoshPandit6278, targeting Chandrakant Patil and Mitali Salvekar.
Pune Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Sagar Kawade confirmed that a case has been registered by Kothrud police against Pandit and that he has been taken into custody in connection with the matter.
What the Videos Allegedly Contained
One of the videos allegedly featured a remark warning that if Chandrakant Patil and Salvekar did not respond to certain questions within two days, Pandit would 'parade' them. According to the complaint, that video had garnered approximately 4.53 lakh views.
In a separate video, Pandit allegedly used an obscene and sexually suggestive remark while referring to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. That post and video had reportedly received more than 12 lakh views at the time of the complaint.
The complainant further alleged that Pandit had circulated multiple posts and videos targeting Chandrakant Patil using obscene language, gestures, and defamatory allegations. The content was allegedly circulated with the intent of attracting publicity, causing insult, and fomenting misunderstanding and tension among the public.
Charges Registered
Kothrud police have registered the case under Sections 75(1)(iv), 75(3), 356(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, as well as Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 — the latter dealing with publishing obscene material in electronic form.
Second Case Against Pandit
Notably, this is the second case registered against Pandit in connection with alleged objectionable remarks concerning Chandrakant Patil. An earlier case was registered at Deccan police station over alleged offensive remarks targeting the minister. The fresh arrest signals an escalation in law enforcement's response to the YouTuber's online conduct.
Further investigation into the matter is currently underway, with police yet to disclose whether additional charges or arrests are anticipated.
Point of View
Which raises a pointed question about platform accountability. YouTube's monetisation and amplification of content that crosses into obscenity and defamation deserves scrutiny alongside the creator's legal culpability. With over 12 lakh views on a single offending video before any takedown, the speed of harm far outpaced the speed of enforcement. India's IT Act Section 67 was designed for exactly these scenarios, but its application remains reactive rather than preventive — a gap that repeat offenders continue to exploit.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Santosh Pandit arrested in Pune?
Santosh Pandit was arrested by Kothrud police on 3 September after a complaint alleged he posted obscene and sexually suggestive videos on his YouTube channel targeting Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil and Pune Municipal Corporation corporator Mitali Kuldeep Salvekar. The videos reportedly accumulated over 12 lakh views before the complaint was filed.
What charges have been filed against Santosh Pandit?
The case has been registered under Sections 75(1)(iv), 75(3), 356(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Section 67 of the IT Act specifically deals with publishing obscene material in electronic form.
Is this the first case against Santosh Pandit over remarks about Chandrakant Patil?
No. This is the second case against Pandit in connection with alleged offensive remarks targeting Minister Chandrakant Patil. An earlier case was registered at Deccan police station over similar alleged conduct.
Who filed the complaint that led to Santosh Pandit's arrest?
The complaint was filed by Sarika Ram Kamble, 36, a resident of Kothrud, Pune. The case was registered at approximately 1.28 am on Thursday, 3 September.
How many people viewed the alleged obscene videos?
According to the complaint, one video targeting Chandrakant Patil and Mitali Salvekar had been viewed by approximately 4.53 lakh people, while a separate video referencing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had received more than 12 lakh views.
