Pune YouTuber-activist arrested at 1 am over obscene remarks against women

Pune activist and YouTuber Santosh Pandit was arrested after complaints over allegedly obscene remarks in his videos. The late-night arrest and a separate complaint over remarks against Chandrakant Patil have fuelled online outrage.Pune YouTuber Santosh Pandit was a vocal critic of the Pune civic body over development work. Pune YouTuber and activist Santosh Pandit, known for criticising development works and civic issues in the city, has been arrested for allegedly making obscene and abusive remarks against women.Following a complaint, the police picked up Pandit from his residence at around 1 am.Preliminary information suggests that Pandit had questioned development work in Pune's Kothrud area through his YouTube videos and used obscene and abusive language while doing so.A case was subsequently registered against him based on a complaint filed by a woman. According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that the statements made by Pandit were obscene and were capable of outraging the modesty of women.She further alleged that the remarks amounted to the molestation and insult of several women. Following the complaint, a case was registered against Pandit.Just days before his arrest, he had also posted a video containing allegedly objectionable remarks against Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil.The police registered a case against two people following a complaint by former BJP corporator Sunil Pandey.According to the complaint, the video criticised public representatives for allegedly ignoring issues raised by citizens. However, the complainant alleged that the video went beyond criticism and contained abusive and offensive language against Patil.'THANK YOU FOR ARRESTING ME'Pandit’s arrest triggered a high-voltage scene outside his residence, with his family recording the entire episode on video. The police team arrived in two vehicles, with some personnel in plain clothes.As he was being taken to the police vehicle, Pandit was heard saying that police personnel had entered his house around midnight.He then addressed a uniformed police officer and said, "If I have caused you any inconvenience or if you feel I have not cooperated, I apologise. Thank you for arresting me.”Pandit subsequently stopped the police and handed his mobile phone, car keys and belt to his family members. He was also heard saying that he knew which of his belongings the police did not require.The arrest video has gone viral on social media, triggering widespread outrage.While one person said, "Killing democracy day by day," another asked, "But where is the proof of his derogatory remarks against Patil?""Arresting at midnight as if wanted absconding criminal," an X user posted.- EndsPublished By: Karishma Saurabh KalitaPublished On: Sep 3, 2026 11:00 IST