Sita ‘Smoking’ In Play: Pune University Professor & 5 Students Arrested

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Pune: A professor and five students of Savitribai Phule Pune University were arrested on Saturday for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by staging a play based on the epic ‘Ramayan’.

According to police, the play reportedly contained objectionable dialogues and scenes, including  one where a male actor dressed as Sita is seen smoking cigarettes, reported PTI.

RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad functionaries and students of Pune Lalit Kala Kendra, which is part of Pune University, engaged in a scuffle and fisticuffs over the play which was staged on Friday evening.

Based on a complaint lodged by ABVP functionary Harshvardhan Harpude, a case was registered under section 295A (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class) and other relevant provisions of IPC, inspector Ankush Chintaman informed.

The FIR stated that when members of ABVP objected to the play and stopped the performance, the artistes assaulted them.

Police arrested Dr Pravin Bhole, the head of department of Lalit Kala Kendra, along with Bhavesh Patil, Jay Pednekar, Prathamesh Sawant, Rishikesh Dalvi and Yash Chikhle.