UK-based doctor held at Mumbai airport says detention linked to posts on PM Modi

Dr Sangram Patil the UK national who was detained for nearly 15 hours by the Mumbai Police after arriving in the city with his wife on January 10 opened up to midday about his ordeal alleging that his freedom of speech was curtailed as he had been raising questions on social media about Prime Minister Narendra Modirsquos public image and conductThe medical practitioner who is originally from Jalgaon Maharashtra said he was unaware that a lookout circular mdash which empowers the police to take such action against foreign nationals arriving at airports mdash had been issued against him based on an FIR registered in December last yearHe added that his intention was never to target the government but to seek clarity on the narratives being circulated about the Prime Minister ldquoI raised questions not against the government but against supporters of PM Modi If doubts are being created about his image and character globally then a clarification should come That would benefit the countryrdquo Dr Patil saidThe doctor added he had been actively questioning authorities and narratives on social media not only from this government but also those of the erstwhile UPA government He stated that he also took part in the anticorruption protest spearheaded by activist Anna Hazare against the Manmohan Singh government in 2011 ldquoI even questioned doctors during COVID Questioning is part of my social media activity Itrsquos my democratic rightrdquo he saidAccording to him he had put up a post on Facebook on December 14 that merely referred to global discussions about PM Modi and seeking an explanation from his supporters and the establishment However an FIR was registered on December 18 allegedly by a Modi supporter without the doctorrsquos knowledge Dr Patil added that the experience had left him mentally exhausted and he was still recovering from the trauma of prolonged detention after an international journeyThe incidentDr Patil who visits India every three to four months to meet his parents and family arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport with his wife late Saturday night when immigration officials stopped himldquoAs soon as I reached immigration the officers detained us and they took us to a separate office where I was informed that an FIR had been registered against me and the police would arrive to either arrest or release merdquo he recalledDr Patil said he was detained at the airport for four to five hours where an officer checked his British national passport and talked or informed to their senior offices After five hours several officials from the Lower Parel Crime Branch Unit 3 came and they took them to their office There he was questioned for nearly nine hours before being released on notice around 5 pm on Saturday In total Dr Patil claims he was detained for approximately 15 hoursDr Patil said he later learned that a lookout circular LOC had been issued against him which led to his detention ldquoHad I known about the FIR I would have come prepared My passport was taken Officials were discussing my case with senior officials for a long time and returned it only after receiving clearancerdquo he saidCrime Branch officials reportedly told Dr Patil that the FIR was registered under allegations of promoting hatred between the two communities which he strongly deniesldquoThere was nothing in my post that spread hatred I simply asked why such things were being said about the Prime Minister and why there was no clarificationrdquo he saidFamily traumaThe detention disrupted Dr Patilrsquos family plans His wife missed her connecting flight to Nagpur where she was to visit her parents His own parents over 70 years old and farmers in Jalgaon were left deeply shaken he claimed ldquoThey are still traumatised and worriedrdquo he saidDr Patil added that he suffered a health scare during questioning and was advised medical treatment While he declined admission to a government hospital he was taken to a private hospital for a checkupStressing that both India and the UK are democratic nations he asserted ldquoAsking tough questionsmdasheven in harsh wordsmdashis my right If every critic is booked under FIRs what happens to free speechrdquo ldquoI love India My love for the country has not diminished That is precisely why I will continue to ask questionsrdquoDiplomatic aspectDr Patil told midday that the office of the British Deputy High Commission Mumbai contacted him on Tuesday to seek a detailed account of the incident Officials from the Deputy High Commission gathered comprehensive information related to the case including the FIR the social media post that led to the complaint and the sequence of events surrounding Dr Patilrsquos detention by Mumbai Airport immigration authorities and the Mumbai Crime BranchThe Deputy High Commission also enquired about the legal assistance available to Dr Patil and assured him of full consular support until the matter is formally closed Officials further reassured that their team would ensure Dr Patil is treated fairly and in accordance with due process throughout the legal proceedingsAccording to Dr Patil the British Deputy High Commission has also confirmed that it will continue to follow the case closely including his upcoming visit to the Mumbai Crime Branch and will remain engaged until he departs for the UKCop TalkDCP Crime and Mumbai Police PRO Rajtilak Roushan told midday ldquoThe person concerned has been given a notice under Section 353 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha SanhitardquoExpert SpeakAsked to comment on the matter advocate Majeed Memon said ldquoAt this stage I do not have access to the contents of the FIR so it would not be appropriate for me to comment definitively It is important to first ascertain whether the statements mentioned in the FIR actually fall within the ambit of the law Unless it is clear what was said and how it has been recorded in the FIR it would be premature to conclude anythingrdquoldquoHowever one thing is settled in law criticising the government is not a criminal offence While criticism directed at the nation or a particular religion may be considered offensive in a democracy questioning or criticising the functioning of the government is legally permissiblerdquo he added