Play with ‘objectionable scenes’ on Lord Ram, Sita disrupted at Pune University campus; head of performing arts dept, students arrested

Those booked include head of the Lalit Kala Kendra Dr Pravin Dattatraya Bhole, writer of the play Bhavesh Patil, director Jay Pedhnekar and actors Prathamesh Savant, Hrushikesh Dalvi, Yash Chikhale and others under sections 295 A (insulting religious beliefs), 294 (obscene acts and songs), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 149, 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 116, 117 (abetting commission of offence) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.

The FIR mentions that Harpude and his friends went to the open theatre at the Lalit Kala Kendra on the SPPU premises on Friday evening to watch student plays. One of the plays, titled ‘Jab We Met’, allegedly had objectionable and abusive words and comments by the actors. It was also alleged that an actor playing the role of Sita was smoking on the stage during the play.

Besides stating that the play hurt the sentiments of Hindus, it was alleged that when the complainant and his friends raised objections, they were manhandled and thrashed by the actors and students of the Lalit Kala Kendra.

The police said some of the accused were detained for investigation. Meanwhile, purported videos of the play have gone viral on social media.