Pune: Hookah-Smoking Incident at Malhar Fort Sparks Outrage, Renews Call for Heritage Protection
Saswad, 1st August 2025: A viral video of a man smoking hookah at the entrance of the historic Malhar Fort near Pune has triggered widespread public anger and reignited the conversation around the protection of Maharashtra’s cultural heritage.
According to eyewitnesses, the man was seen smoking casually at the fort’s main gate when a concerned visitor approached him and urged him to stop, citing the site’s historical importance. The smoker allegedly ignored the appeal, prompting the citizen to smash the hookah in protest. The confrontation ended with the man leaving the site.
The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, has drawn praise for the citizen’s stand and condemnation for the disrespect shown to the heritage site.
This is not an isolated case. Disrespectful behaviour at forts, ranging from littering to drinking and vandalism, continues to be a growing concern. Citizens and history lovers have now demanded stricter enforcement by the Archaeological Department and local authorities to protect these iconic symbols of Maharashtra’s valor.
Public voices are calling for clear visitor guidelines, enhanced surveillance, and stringent penalties for violations to preserve such irreplaceable monuments.
In response to the outrage, the Haveli Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 302 and 352, relating to wounding religious sentiments and provoking breach of peace.
Earlier in April, a similar controversy erupted when youths tricked a New Zealand tourist into uttering Marathi abuses—an incident that also drew significant online backlash and police intervention.
