Pune Professor And 5 Students Nabbed After A Controversial Play, Here's Why

For allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community, a professor and five students of Savitribai Phule Pune University were arrested.

The arrest was made in connection with a play based on 'Ramleela,' which reportedly contained objectionable dialogues and scenes, as reported by news agency PTI.

Photo Credit: X/@SanghiPablo1

Pune Professor And 5 Students Nabbed

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, "Prabhu Shri Ram and Sita were humiliated again, now in Pune University. Sita shown smoking cigarettes & lot of gaalis. All involved in this play should be booked for blasphemy."

In a viral video depicting the staged play, a male artist portraying Sita was shown smoking a cigarette and using abusive language.

The play, which took place on the university campus on Friday, witnessed a scuffle between members of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and students of Pune University's Lalit Kala Kendra.

Based on backstage banter among actors performing various roles in 'Ramleela,' the play by the Lalit Kala Kendra, officially known as the Centre for Performing Arts, became the centre of controversy.

Following a complaint lodged by ABVP functionary Harshvardhan Harpude, a case was registered under section 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, as informed by a police officer, PTI.

The head of the department of the Lalit Kala Kendra, Dr. Pravin Bhole, and students Bhavesh Patil, Jay Pednekar, Prathamesh Sawant, Rishikesh Dalvi, and Yash Chikhle have been arrested by the police.