‘Tipu Sultan’: Pune Woman Seeks FIR Against CM, BJP and Patit Pavan Organisation

Pune, 15th February 2026: A criminal complaint has been filed at Shivajinagar Police Station seeking registration of an offence against Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and members of the Patit Pavan organisation over the alleged desecration of Tipu Sultan in Pune.

The complaint was submitted by Swati Vilas Gaikwad, a resident of Tadiwala Road. In her submission, she has alleged that the Chief Minister and certain persons associated with the BJP and the Patit Pavan organisation promoted communal disharmony, hurt religious sentiments, instigated unrest and desecrated the image of a historical figure.

According to the complaint, the allegations stem from remarks attributed to the Chief Minister in which Tipu Sultan was reportedly referred to as “Naradham” and accused of killing large numbers of Hindus during the period of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The complainant has alleged that such statements were provocative and amounted to spreading misinformation, despite the constitutional oath to maintain law and order.

The complaint further states that on February 15, 2026, individuals allegedly associated with the BJP and the Patit Pavan organisation gathered near Congress Bhavan in Shivajinagar. It is alleged that the gathering led to unrest and damage to property, and that a portrait of Tipu Sultan was blackened while objectionable statements were made in public.

The complainant has also alleged that banners displaying Tipu Sultan’s image were vandalised and torn, and that incorrect historical claims were made with the intent to create communal tension. She stated that the acts hurt her religious, social and constitutional sentiments.

In her complaint, Gaikwad described Tipu Sultan as a freedom fighter and social reformer, and claimed that provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act are applicable in the matter. She has sought registration of offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Protection of Civil Rights Act and the Maharashtra Police Act.

Advocates Tosif Sheikh, I.T. Sheikh, Kranti Sahane, Suraj Jadhav, Adil Datarange, along with Aman Pathan, Zakir Nadaf and other citizens, were present at the police station at the time of filing the complaint.

Police officials have not yet issued a detailed statement on the complaint.