WATCH VIRAL ‘Objectionable Sita Smoking’ VIDEO: FIR Against Students and Professor of Savitribai Phule Pune University
Significant controversy has erupted on social media, causing distress to the religious sentiments of certain individuals and leading to the arrest of some involved parties. At Savitribai Phule Pune University, a play titled “Behind the Screen Life of the Actors Playing Ramleela” was staged at the Fine Arts Center. However, a heated confrontation unfolded between the students on stage and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) during the performance.
According to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the play contained numerous scenes and objectionable dialogues targeting Mata Sita, the wife of Lord Rama, who is considered one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu in the Treta yuga.
WATCH VIRAL ‘Objectionable Sita Smoking’ VIDEO here
In response to the ABVP’s objections, the dispute escalated and reached the police station. Consequently, five students and one university professor were arrested by the police for staging the play based on Ramlila, wherein the characters portraying Rama’s story were shown engaging in abusive language and the character of Mata Sita smoking cigarettes on stage.
The FIR filed states that the student portraying the character of Mata Sita in the play was depicted using offensive language and smoking cigarettes. When ABVP members attempted to halt the play, they were allegedly pushed back and assaulted by the artists.
The artists argue that the play depicted the banter that occurs behind the stage between different artists playing various roles.
Case Registered Against Savitribai Phule Pune University Students, and Professor For Hurting Religious Sentiments
Ankush Chintaman, the Sub Inspector, mentioned that the case was registered based on a complaint filed by Harshvardhan Harpude, the ABVP official. Under section 295(A) of the IPC, which deals with the “deliberate and malicious intent to hurt religious sentiments of any class,” among other provisions, the case has been filed.
The identities of the arrested individuals are five students named Yash Chikhale, Hrishikesh Dalvi, Prathamesh Sawant, Jai Pednekar, and Bhavesh Patil. Additionally, the arrested professor is Dr. Praveen Bhole, who serves as the Head of the Department of Lalit Kala Kendra.
