Pune: ‘What’s Obscene About Wearing a Saree?’: Radha Patil Questions FIR over Dahi Handi Performance at Bibwewadi

Pune, 9th September 2026: Lavani dancer Radha Patil has questioned the registration of a case against her over a Dahi Handi programme in Bibwewadi, claiming that she performed after being asked to start the show by the organisers and in the presence of police officials, including an IPS officer.

Speaking to TV9 Marathi, Patil said she believed the event had the necessary permission because senior police personnel were present at the venue and the sound system was already operational.

“Why was a case registered against me? If the programme did not have permission, what were the IPS officer and police personnel doing at the venue? The sound system was also running,” Patil said.

She claimed that she had submitted the receipt for her performance certificate at the police station and that her manager had been present at the venue since around 2 pm. According to Patil, the organisers later came to her vanity van and asked her to begin the performance.

“Since an IPS officer was present at the venue, I assumed that the programme had permission and started performing. Two girls from my group performed first, after which I made my entry. A policewoman also recorded a video from below. The programme was then stopped and a case was registered. I am wondering why this was done,” she said.

Patil also rejected allegations that her performance was obscene and questioned why her attire and dance style were being singled out.

“We wear sarees. It is natural for the waist to be visible in a saree. What is obscene about that?” she asked.

“My gestures are never obscene. Show me even one video in which I have made obscene gestures,” Patil said.

She further alleged that she was being targeted because of her surname and expressed anger over what she described as unfair treatment.

“Am I being targeted simply because my surname is Patil? Does the fact that one person with the surname Patil has done something wrong mean another Patil will also do the same?” she said.

Patil also said her performance was part of a DJ show featuring mashups, which included two to three Lavani performances. She questioned why attention was being focused only on her outfit.

“My show is a DJ show, so I am being targeted. There are mashups in a DJ show, and you cannot perform them wearing a mashup dress. That is why I wear a saree. Two to three Lavani performances are part of my show. Why is only my outfit being highlighted?” she said.

A case was registered against Patil and the president of a Dahi Handi mandal in Bibwewadi for allegedly organising a programme without the required permission. Police had prohibited obscene dance performances during Dahi Handi celebrations and made it mandatory for artists to submit the required stage performance inspection certificate.

According to police, neither the organisers nor Patil had submitted an application seeking the necessary permission for the programme.