Pune DJ Noise Row: Man Accused of Assaulting Vidyanand Bapat Gets One-Day Police Custody
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 4th September 2026: A Pune court on Friday remanded a 32-year-old man to one day of police custody for allegedly assaulting social activist Vidyanand Bapat, who has been vocal against noise pollution and the use of DJs during Ganeshotsav, and threatening to kill him.
The accused has been identified as Santosh Shankar Chavan (32), a resident of Hanumannagar, Rautwadi, Kothrud. He was produced before the court by officials of the Vishrambaug police station on Friday.
According to the complaint filed by Vidyanand Suhas Bapat (37), a resident of Narayan Peth, the incident took place around 11.45 am on Thursday (September 3) near Maharashtra Mandal on Tilak Road in Sadashiv Peth.
Assault Allegedly Triggered by Anti-DJ Stand
According to the complaint, Chavan allegedly confronted Bapat and questioned him about opposing DJs during Ganeshotsav.
The accused allegedly asked Bapat, “Do you want to create obstacles during our Ganeshotsav? Do you speak against DJs?” before assaulting him. He also allegedly abused Bapat and threatened to kill him.
The Vishrambaug police arrested Chavan on Thursday night.
Police Seek Custody to Probe Motive
Chavan was produced before the court on Friday, where investigating officer Assistant Police Inspector Arjun Kudale and public prosecutor R.D. Korde sought five days of police custody.
The prosecution told the court that investigators needed to establish the motive behind the assault, determine whether anyone else was involved and ascertain whether there had been any previous dispute between the accused and the complainant.
Police also sought custody to investigate whether anyone had provided Chavan with information about Bapat and whether other persons were involved in the alleged offence.
The prosecution further submitted that six previous offences relating to crimes against persons have been registered against Chavan.
The police argued that the alleged incident occurred during the festival season, with Dahi Handi and Ganeshotsav approaching, and claimed that the accused had attempted to create tension in society.
Defence Opposes Police Custody
Defence lawyers Advocate Hemant Bhand Patil and Advocate Khetram Solanki opposed the police custody application.
The defence argued that Chavan had voluntarily appeared before the police and that he did not harbour any animosity towards the complainant. They submitted that the accused could have been served a notice and released.
The defence also argued that the case was being given undue importance due to media pressure and sought judicial custody instead.
After hearing both sides, the court granted one day of police custody to the Vishrambaug police.
Charges Registered Under BNS
The police have registered a case against Chavan under the following provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS):
Section 353(2) – Spreading false information or rumours likely to cause public disorder
Section 126(2) – Wrongful restraint
Section 296 – Obscene acts or words in a public place
Section 115(2) – Voluntarily causing grievous hurt
Section 351(2) – Criminal intimidation
