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Pune: In a distressing incident, a Pune University professor and five students have been arrested for hurting religious sentiments by staging a play based on ‘Ramleela’, which allegedly contains objectionable dialogues and lyrics, police said on Saturday.
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists expressed strong objection to the poor portrayal of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita in the said Act. ABVP workers stopped the play and heated argument ensued. Two students reportedly suffered injuries in the brawl that took place on Friday, February 2.
In a play staged at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Mata Sita is being shown smoking a cigarette and Prabhu Shri Ram ji is assisting her in lighting it.
Requesting @CPPuneCity @DGPMaharashtra @PuneCityPolice to register a case under 295A and take strict action against… pic.twitter.com/QRjOnD4i9R
— Randomsena (@randomsena) February 3, 2024
A professor and five students of Savitribai Phule Pune University were arrested for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of the Hindu community, sources reported.
The development came over a play based on ‘Ramleela’ that reportedly had objectionable dialogues and scenes. In a viral video showing the play being staged, a male artist portraying Sita was shown smoking a cigarette and using abusive language.
ABVP members objected to the ridicule of Ramayana and Lord Rama and Mother Sita, emphasizing that Ramayana is not mythology but history. In the derogatory video, the student playing the role of Mata Sita was shown smoking a cigarette. It is being told that the subject of the play is the rehearsal journey of the artists involved in Ramlila.
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
The lodge complaint read that when members of the ABVP took objection to the play and stopped the performance, the artists started heckling and assaulted them.
The play by the Lalit Kala Kendra, officially called the Centre for Performing Arts, was based on the backstage banter of actors who perform various roles in ’Ramleela’. Based on a complaint lodged by the ABVP functionary Harshvardhan Harpude, a case was registered under section 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, inspector Ankush Chintaman said.
The police have apprehended Dr Pravin Bhole, the head of the department of the Lalit Kala Kendra, and students Bhavesh Patil, Jay Pednekar, Prathamesh Sawant, Rishikesh Dalvi and Yash Chikhle, he said. As per the first information report (FIR), in the play, a male artiste portraying Sita was shown smoking a cigarette and using abusive language.
