Mumbai (29.06.2026): A 45-second video clip that has gone viral after the appointment of Vishwas Nangre Patil (IPS: 1997: MH) as Nagpur Police Commissioner in which the IPS officer is seen addressing a public meeting of the Sakal Hindu Samaj (SHS), a loose conglomeration of Hindu outfits such as the VHP, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, Hindu Pratisthan, and Durga Vahini. In the video, Patil praises the Sangh and describes its founder Dr K B Hedgewar as a “farsighted nationalist”.
In late 2022 and early 2023, the SHS had sparked a political storm over its public meetings against “religious conversions” and “love jihad”, facing multiple FIRs as a result over alleged hate speech. As the video started doing rounds on social media, the Opposition targeted the BJP-led Maharashtra government and Patil, questioning the neutrality of the civil services.
The Congress sought a probe into the speech and posted, “Forgot the oath of the Constitution and the khaki uniform, they’ve shown up at the Sangh’s doorstep singing praises. On one side, taking the oath of the Constitution, shouldering the responsibility of the people’s security, and on the other side, openly praising the RSS … What kind of dutiful IPS officer is this?”
Patil is a decorated officer who has served in important posts throughout his career of over two decades. During the 26/11 terror attacks, he was the Deputy Commissioner of Mumbai City’s Zone 1 and took on the terrorists who had entered the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.
Known to be in the good books of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Patil served as the Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) of Mumbai when the Maha Vikas Aghadi government of the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress was in power. He was heading the state Anti-Corruption Bureau when he received his transfer order to Nagpur last week.
