10 September,2026 09:50 AM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
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Members of a local organisation have approached the police in Pune seeking action against social media users who allegedly posted derogatory comments targeting a woman who lodged a complaint against social media influencer Santosh Pandit, police said.
Pandit has been accused of making allegedly derogatory remarks against Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil and a woman public representative. A case was registered against him at the Kothrud police station following a complaint by Sarika Kamble, who works with the Pune Municipal Corporation.
On Monday, a group of members of the Bhau Foundation went to Kothrud police station and sought action against social media users who allegedly targeted Kamble after she filed the complaint against Pandit.
The organisation alleged that Kamble was subjected to derogatory comments on social media because she approached the police over remarks that she considered offensive.
The members urged the police to investigate the posts and take appropriate action against those responsible, according to the organisation.
Kamble, a Pune Municipal Corporation employee, had filed the complaint that led to the registration of a case against Pandit.
Following the complaint, she was allegedly subjected to online trolling, with social media users posting comments directed at her, the organisation claimed.
Tanusha Patil of the Bhau Foundation said the comments targeting Kamble were derogatory and called for police action against the users who posted them.
The organisation said it would also approach Meta, the parent company of platforms including Facebook and Instagram, regarding the alleged posts.
The controversy began with the registration of a case against Pandit at the Kothrud police station over his alleged remarks against Patil and a woman public representative.
The complaint was filed by Kamble, who works with the Pune civic body. Police subsequently took action against Pandit in connection with the allegations.
The specific social media posts targeting Kamble are now also under scrutiny following the complaint by members of the Bhau Foundation.
A local court on Tuesday remanded Pandit to judicial custody in connection with the case involving the alleged derogatory remarks.
The development came amid the wider controversy surrounding the comments attributed to him and the subsequent complaint filed by Kamble.
The allegations against Pandit have not been established in court, and the case will proceed through the legal process.
The Bhau Foundation has sought police action against the social media users who allegedly posted derogatory remarks against Kamble.
The organisation said such comments were linked to her decision to approach the police against Pandit and should be investigated.
(With inputs from PTI)
