Pune: Kothrud Salon Owner Attacked Over Alleged Conversion; Police Reveal Financial Dispute As Root Cause

Kothrud, 8th April 2025: Tensions flared in Pune’s Kothrud area after a unisex salon operator was assaulted by workers associated with Ujjwala Goud, a member of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Mahila Morcha. The group accused the salon owner of forcing a female employee to convert her religion by reciting Islamic Kalma and allegedly offering her ₹1 lakh to remain silent. However, police investigations have revealed a very different story.

The salon operator, identified as Javed, was physically attacked following the allegations. The incident sparked outrage among some political workers, who claimed that the young woman employed at his salon was being coerced into religious conversion. Javed was later handed over to Kothrud Police for further inquiry.

However, according to the official statement released by the police, the incident stemmed from a financial dispute between Javed and the female employee. The woman had taken an advance payment from the salon owner but failed to return the money when she decided to resign from her job. This led to a verbal altercation between the two, during which Javed allegedly used abusive language.

The police have clarified that no evidence has been found to support the allegations of religious conversion. Investigations are ongoing, but authorities have urged the public to refrain from spreading misinformation and to await the outcome of the legal process.