Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Pune Influencer Santosh Pandit Arrested Over Alleged Obscene Videos
Santosh Pandit makes videos about problems in Pune, such as potholes, broken roads and public transport.
Police arrested him at his home early on Thursday morning.
Two police cases were reported against him.
One case involved a video about minister Chandrakant Patil and corporator Mitali Kuldeep Salvekar.
Police said the videos allegedly included insulting, obscene or threatening language.
Another video allegedly made a sexually suggestive remark about Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Some of the videos had been watched hundreds of thousands or more than a million times.
The arrest is based on allegations, and the investigation is still continuing.
Pune Police arrested social media influencer Santosh Pandit at his Kothrud residence around 1 a.m. Thursday.
Police action followed separate cases at Deccan and Kothrud police stations over videos targeting minister Chandrakant Patil and others.
A Kothrud complaint alleged that Pandit threatened to parade Patil and corporator Mitali Kuldeep Salvekar if they did not answer questions.
The complaint also alleged obscene, sexually suggestive, defamatory and abusive content involving Patil and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The Kothrud case invoked several Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act; further investigation is underway.
- Who
- Pune social media influencer Santosh Pandit was arrested; the complaints concerned Chandrakant Patil, Mitali Kuldeep Salvekar and Devendra Fadnavis.
- What
- Police arrested Pandit over allegations that social-media videos contained obscene, sexually suggestive, abusive, threatening and defamatory remarks.
- When
- He was taken into custody around 1 a.m. on Thursday; one report gave the time as approximately 1:28 a.m.
- Where
- Pandit was detained at his Pune residence in Kothrud. Cases were reported at Kothrud and Deccan police stations.
- Why
- Complainants alleged that his videos insulted or defamed public figures, were circulated for publicity and could create misunderstanding or tension.
Complainants’ Allegations
Civic-Criticism Context
Nature of the videos
Complainants’ Allegations
The complaints allege that Pandit used obscene, sexually suggestive, abusive, threatening and defamatory language or gestures against public figures.
Civic-Criticism Context
Reports describe Pandit as a civic-issues creator whose videos focus on potholes, damaged roads, public transport, alleged government negligence and traffic-rule violations.
Criticism or defamation
Complainants’ Allegations
Complainants alleged that the content went beyond political criticism, was intended to tarnish Chandrakant Patil’s image and could create public tension.
Civic-Criticism Context
Pandit’s reported content questioned elected representatives and officials about civic problems; the articles do not include a detailed response from him to the allegations.
Police action
Complainants’ Allegations
Police registered cases, arrested Pandit and began examining the videos, social-media accounts and their creation and circulation.
Civic-Criticism Context
The reports note that the arrest prompted criticism on social media from people who viewed Pandit as an accountability-focused voice for ordinary residents.
- Arrested person
- Santosh Pandit
- Police stations
- Kothrud Police Station and Deccan Police Station, Pune
- Reported arrest time
- Around 1 a.m. Thursday; one report says 1:28 a.m.
- Reported video reach
- About 4.53 lakh views for one alleged threatening video and more than 12 lakh for another post
- Kothrud complainant
- Sarika Ram Kamble, a 36-year-old Kothrud resident
- Kothrud charges
- BNS Sections 75(1)(iv), 75(3), 356(2) and 352, along with Information Technology Act Section 67
- Reported audience
- Reports variously cited about 1.39 million or 13 lakh YouTube subscribers, plus approximately 93,500 Instagram followers
Sources
Police arrest influencer Santosh Pandit over remarks against minister Chandrakant Patil
Pune YouTuber Santosh Pandit arrested over ‘obscene’ videos targeting Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil
Pune activist arrested for allegedly derogatory remarks about minister, corporator
Pune influencer Santosh Pandit arrested over posts targeting minister Chandrakant Patil
