Santosh Pandit is a well-known social advocate from Pune who has consistently used videos and public platforms to highlight issues affecting citizens, question those in positions of authority, and expose failures in governance and civic administration.

His work has brought several public-interest issues into the spotlight. He raised and exposed alleged irregularities concerning a garden-related matter involving Chandrakant Patil, questioned Gopinath Padalkar over the use of an HSRP number plate, and took up the pothole issue directly with Devendra Fadnavis, ensuring that citizens’ concerns reached those in authority.

Through his work, he has often drawn attention not merely to individual incidents, but to gaps in governance, civic administration and accountability that affect ordinary citizens.

His approach may sometimes be direct or controversial, and people may disagree with his choice of words. But raising uncomfortable questions, highlighting civic problems, exposing failures in governance and demanding accountability are important parts of a democratic society.

Santosh Pandit has recently been arrested following a complaint reportedly filed by a woman identifying herself as a safai karamchari associated with the Pune Municipal Corporation. The complaint reportedly relates to the language used by Pandit in his videos.

If any statement made by him is alleged to constitute an offence, it should be examined fairly and impartially under the law. At the same time, disagreement with someone's language or criticism should not become a pretext to silence legitimate public-interest voices.

This raises important questions:

Can someone who repeatedly raises public-interest issues and *exposes failures in governance* be silenced through criminal proceedings simply because his words are uncomfortable or unpopular?

Where is the line between legitimate criticism and an offence—and should that line not be determined through due process?

Should raising questions about public officials, civic administration and issues affecting citizens become a reason for arrest?

This case is about more than Santosh Pandit. It raises a larger question about the space available to citizens, activists and social commentators who challenge authority, expose failures in governance and bring public grievances into the open.

We are not asking anyone to endorse every word Santosh Pandit has spoken. We are asking for fairness, due process and proportionality.

Santosh Pandit has been Framed. ALL the charges are Baseless and False. The "FIR IS FAKE".

We therefore call for the immediate release of Santosh Pandit.

The law must protect citizens, uphold accountability and address genuine offences. It should not become a tool to intimidate or silence those who raise questions, expose failures, frame people  under trumpet up charges and deter those who speak about matters of public interest.

Stand with Santosh Pandit

Stand for the right to question power.

Sign this petition and make your voice heard.