5 students and professor arrested for showing Goddess Sita smoking in Ramleela play in Pune

Pune: A professor and five students were arrested for using objectionable dialogues and scenes while doing Ramleela play in a Pune-based University in Maharashtra. The arrest was done after a video of a male artist portraying Goddess Sita was shown smoking a cigarette and using abusive language went viral over the internet. The arrested accused has been identified as 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.

Following the play, a scuffle also took place between members of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and students of Pune University’s Lalit Kala Kendra. Based on the complaint lodged by member of ABVP, 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. Further investigation into the matter is underway.