Pune University Play Scandal: HoD Among Six Arrested for Offensive Depiction of Lord Shri Ram And Sita Mata

Tikam Shekhawat

Pune, 3rd February 2024: Six students from the Lalit Kala Kendra of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) as well as the director and artists of a play, have been arrested by the Pune police following a controversial performance.

The incident took place yesterday evening during a play that sparked outrage due to the use of objectionable language while depicting Lord Shri Ram and Sita Mata. In response to the controversy, a case was registered at the Chaturshingi police station in Pune this morning.

#ABVP Protests Offensive Language Targeting Hindu Gods in #Pune University Drama pic.twitter.com/AwGOPBn0uS

— Punekar News (@punekarnews) February 2, 2024

As a result of the ongoing investigation, a total of six individuals, including the head of the SPPU’s Centre for Performing Arts, Dr. Praveen Bhole, have been taken into custody by the Pune police. The arrests signal a decisive response to the concerns raised over the offensive portrayal in the play.

Senior Police Inspector Balaji Pandhre, in-charge of Chatushrungi police station, informed Punekar News, “Our team investigated the case and has gone through the script. It was found that Prof Bhole has approved the script knowingly. The script has issues like deities smoking, and this would certainly spark an issue. Yet, no action has been taken by Lalit Kala Kendra professors. We have arrested six persons, including Prof Bhole.”

सावित्रीबाई फुले पुणे विद्यापीठामधील ललित कला केंद्र या विभागाकडून सादर केलेल्या नाटकांमध्ये प्रभू श्रीराम व सीता माता यांची भूमिका विदूषक प्रमाणे दाखवण्यात आली. त्याच बरोबर प्रभू श्रीराम यांना राखी सावंत व देवी देवतांच्या पात्राच्या मुखातून शिव्या व आक्षेपार्ह भाषा वापरण्यात आली pic.twitter.com/gPxE7QdXN5

— ABVP Pune (@ABVPPune) February 2, 2024