Ahead of CM Fadnavis’ Pune Visit, Maratha Activist Detained Over Reservation-Related Developments
Pune, 31st August 2026: Police have detained a Maratha activist in Pune as a precautionary measure ahead of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ visit to the city, after banners demanding answers from Fadnavis and minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil over the SEBC reservation issue were put up at prominent junctions.
The detained activist has been identified as Aniket Deshmane, who is reportedly a supporter of Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil. Police have stepped up security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident during the chief minister’s visit.
The banners, put up by the Maratha Kranti Morcha at several prominent locations in the city, demanded that Fadnavis and Vikhe Patil respond to questions concerning the Maratha community and its demands related to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) reservation.
The banners were installed ahead of Fadnavis’ Pune visit, prompting the administration to take precautionary measures. The Pune Municipal Corporation has also begun removing the banners from various parts of the city.
Police security has been increased in view of the chief minister’s visit, and Deshmane was detained as part of the preventive measures, sources said.
The developments come amid renewed activity around the Maratha reservation issue following Jarange Patil’s ongoing hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati. Maratha activists in Pune have also been attempting to draw the government’s attention to their demands through various means.
The detention of a Maratha activist ahead of Fadnavis’ visit has once again brought the SEBC reservation issue and the Maratha agitation into focus. However, the exact reason for Deshmane’s detention and the action proposed against him have not yet been officially disclosed.
