Hundreds protest Santosh Pandit's arrest at Goodluck Chowk in Pune

Hundreds of supporters of social media activist Santosh Pandit gathered at Goodluck Chowk in Pune on Friday to protest his arrest and demand accountability from the state government and police. Pandit was arrested early Thursday from his residence in connection with complaints over allegedly objectionable videos involving Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil and a PMC corporator. Police registered cases under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Information Technology Act.

Former Pune mayor Prashant Jagtap, Congress city president, said in a democracy everyone has the right to question those in power and demanded withdrawal of cases against Pandit. Protesters expressed solidarity with anti-DJ activist Vidyanand Bapat, who was assaulted in Pune. They also questioned why Pandit was taken into custody during the night and sought clarity on legal procedures followed in the case.