Pune: Social Media Influencer Santosh Pandit Sent to Yerawada Jail After Police Custody Ends
Pune, 8th September 2026: Social Media influencer Santosh Pandit, who was arrested over allegedly objectionable remarks against Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, has been remanded to judicial custody after his police custody ended on Tuesday.
Pandit was produced before the court by Pune Police after the expiry of his police custody. The court subsequently ordered his judicial custody, paving the way for his transfer to jail.
While seeking judicial custody for Pandit, police told the court that at least four cases have been registered against him — two at Parvati police station and one each at Vishrambaug and Deccan police stations, showing that he is a frequent offender. Police argued that if released, Pandit could allegedly upload similar content again through his social media accounts, potentially disturbing public peace.
Police further told the court that the investigation is still underway, including recording statements of witnesses and collecting relevant evidence.
Pandit was arrested by Pune Police in the early hours following a complaint over allegedly objectionable and obscene content circulated on social media. A case was registered against him at the Kothrud police station based on the complaint filed by a woman.
The court had earlier granted police custody of Pandit until September 8 to facilitate the investigation. After the custody period ended, police produced him before the court again on Tuesday.
Police are continuing to investigate videos uploaded on Pandit’s social media accounts as well as the allegedly objectionable content that formed the basis of the complaint.
According to the FIR, an earlier video recorded near SNDT College on Karve Road featured a photograph of Patil. Although Pandit did not name the minister directly, the FIR alleges that he used objectionable and obscene language while questioning Patil over civic issues and problems faced by residents in the area.
