Pune: Kondhwa Girl Facing Sedition Charges Seeks Permission to Appear for Exams, Challenges College Rustication in High Court

Kondhwa, 21st May 2025: The case of 19-year-old Khatija Shahabuddin Shaikh from Kondhwa has drawn widespread attention after she shared screenshots of pro-Pakistan tweets (in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor) on her Instagram story. Following the incident, Pune police swiftly filed sedition charges against her.
Also, Singhgad Institute rusticated her from the college. Khatija has now approached the High Court seeking cancellation of the rustication order and permission to appear for her upcoming semester exams.

Khatija was arrested by Kondhwa police and charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).

Khatija is a second-year engineering student. The college administration rusticated her, citing damage to the institution’s reputation and concerns about campus safety.

Refusing to accept the rustication, Khatija’s legal counsel, Farhana Shah, filed a petition in the High Court challenging the decision as arbitrary and unlawful. The petition requests the court to annul the rustication and direct the college to reinstate her enrollment. It also seeks permission for Khatija to appear for semester examinations scheduled from May 24, 2025.

Khatija’s plea emphasizes her right to education and contends that the college’s action violates her fundamental rights. “I deserve the right to continue my studies without discrimination,” she states in her submission.

Adv Farhana Shah, Senior Counsel Mumbai High Court, said, “As the matter is subjudiced, I would request reporters not to take media trial. My client had mistakenly shared the post and deleted in within 2 hours after she realised a wrong post was shared and later on apologised to all her friends and college groups. After 50 hours of this incident, some people with malicious intent reposted the screenshot of my client’s post to create disharmony but fortunately police acted swiftly and took charge of the situation. She is a meritorious child who went on to crack IIT in academics and is a true patriotic person by heart. On behalf of my client, I urge my fellow citizens to show understanding on this issue and the truth shall prevail as we have full faith in the judiciary, Jai Hind.”