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Pune Crime Files: Who was Shrikant Lingayat, the RSS activist jailed during Emergency and murdered in 1982

As the RSS celebrates its centenary year, the organisation’s Pune unit commemorates its worker Shrikant Lingayat, who was killed in an attack over four decades ago, with tributes and events.

4 min readPuneUpdated: Oct 6, 2025 12:48 PM IST

A resident of Solapur Bazaar in the Pune Camp area, Shrikant joined the outfit in his childhood. (Express Photo)

As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) holds various programmes across the country to mark its centenary year, in Pune, the organisation remembers its functionary Shrikant Lingayat, who was murdered over four decades ago.

A resident of Solapur Bazaar in the Pune Camp area, Shrikant joined the outfit in his childhood. He handled different responsibilities in the outfit and became a prominent figure in RSS circles.

Rioting and assault in 1982

As per police records, on the evening of January 26, 1982, during a “communal riot-like situation”, armed men allegedly linked to Razzak Rampuri (then a criminal on police record) attacked Shrikant and other RSS workers while they were returning from a Satyanarayan function in the Bhavani Peth area. The function was organised by the Patit Pawan Sanghatana (PPS), which was then led by Pradip Rawat, who was later elected as the BJP MP from Pune.

Shrikant and a few others, including Ramesh Keshatwar, were injured in the attack. Shrikant’s brother, Chandrakant, said, “Shrikant and a few more RSS workers went for the PPS function, shouting slogans like ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Pakistan Murdabad’. While returning in the evening, a group of men attacked them with swords and knives near Chudaman Talim in Bhavani Peth. After knowing about the incident, my family and I rushed to Sassoon Hospital where Shrikant was admitted. He had grievous injuries due to multiple assaults on his body. He succumbed to the injuries at the hospital on March 15, 1982. He was just 26 years old at the time…”

A retired police officer said Shrikant’s death sparked major tension in Pune city. The then RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras visited Shrikant’s house in Pune to offer his condolences.

Sessions court acquits accused, but HC convicts 3

A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged in connection with the incident at Lashkar police station in Pune city. The police framed charges against 27 people under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 147 and 148 (rioting, with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 302 (murder), 324 and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons), and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

But the sessions court in Pune acquitted all of them, including Razzak Rampuri, in October 1984. The state subsequently filed an appeal in the Bombay High Court against the acquittal. After another 16 years, the high court set aside the acquittal of three of the accused.

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As per the high court order dated September 15, 2000, the three accused were convicted under IPC sections 304 and 323. Considering the “dying declaration” of Shrikant in which he had narrated how he was attacked and had named some of the accused, as well as the statements of the injured people and eyewitnesses, the high court observed, “There was more than sufficient and trustworthy evidence to support the conviction” of the three accused.

“…We will be failing in our duty towards the society if they are let off only on the point of lapse of 18 years. Law must always reach its logical end,” the high court order stated.

Memorial for Shrikant Lingayat, tributes

A couple of years after Shrikant’s death, his supporters raised a memorial in his name, the Hutatma Shrikant Lingayat Smruti Stambh, at Bhopale Chowk in Pune Camp.

“Every year on March 15, his death anniversary, the Lingayat family, and activists of RSS and allied groups gather at the Smruti Stambh to pay tributes to him,” Chandrakant his broother stated. (Express photo)

Speaking about the location chosen for the memorial, his brother Chandrakant said, “Shrikant was arrested for leading the satyagraha at Bhopale chowk against the Emergency imposed in the country in 1975. He was jailed for 19 months under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) Act. He studied even in prison and cleared BCom. After being released from jail in 1977, he started preparing for Chartered Accountant (CA) exams, continued RSS activities and also initiated the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj birth anniversary procession in Pune Camp.”

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“Every year on March 15, his death anniversary, the Lingayat family, and activists of RSS and allied groups gather at the Smruti Stambh to pay tributes to him,” Chandrakant added. A few years ago, a road in the Wanavdi area of Pune city was named after Shrikant Lingayat.

Chandan Haygunde

Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”. He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation. Key Beats: His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Background: Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape. Awards and Recognition: He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve. He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry. 1. High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases “Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025). Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links. “The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025) Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas. “How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025) After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital. “A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025). Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train. “No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025) Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence. 2. Inter-state firearms racket "Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025) "Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025) Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh 3. Cybercrime & Financial Scams “Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025) An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country ‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025) Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds Signature Style: The Investigative Hit Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies. His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses. He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers. X (Twitter): @chandan_pune ... Read More

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