‘File Cases Against Me, Not Students’: Rohit Pawar Challenges Pune Police
Pune, 10th October 2026: NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Saturday demanded that Pune police withdraw cases against protesting MPSC aspirants and register the same charges against him, accusing the police of deliberately targeting students and protest organisers.
Pawar visited Vishrambaug police station to question the action against the protesters as the agitation at S M Joshi Bridge entered its 10th day. He alleged that despite his active participation in the protest, police had not named him in the cases filed against the students.
In a strongly worded social media post, Pawar questioned the conduct of the Pune police commissioner and condemned the alleged branding of students from farming and working-class families as terrorists and spies. He also urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to rein in police officials.
“I have been sitting with the students for 10 days and speaking more aggressively than anyone else. If the police want to take action, why not act against me instead? Do not put the students’ futures at risk,” Pawar told reporters.
He alleged that police registered cases against 15 people on Friday and initiated further action against four of them on Saturday over the alleged use of a drone. Pawar demanded that the cases against the students be cancelled and the same charges be applied to him.
“Withdraw the action against the students and invoke whatever sections you want against me,” he said, accusing the government of using the police against young protesters while protecting its own associates.
The police action has intensified tensions surrounding the ongoing agitation, which seeks changes concerning the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).
