![A scene from the play staged at Pune University [Image source: social media]](https://img.theweek.in/content/dam/week/news/india/images/2024/2/3/ramleela-play-pune-university.jpg "A scene from the play staged at Pune University [Image source: social media]")
A professor and five students of the Savitribai Phule Pune University have been arrested for staging a ‘Ramleela’ based play which allegedly contained objectionable portrayal of Lord Ram, Sita and Ravan.
The play staged on the campus on Friday evening by the Lalit Kala Kendra—officially called the Centre for Performing Arts—depicted the behind-the-scene interactions of actors performing various roles in the ‘Ramleela’.
The police registered a case 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, based on a complaint lodged by the ABVP functionary Harshvardhan Harpude.
Those arrested included 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.
As per the First Information Report (FIR), the actor portraying Sita was seen smoking and using abusive language towards Laxman, while the artiste playing Lord Ram was seen assisting Sita in lighting the cigarette.
Students of ABVP raised objections to the scene, which led to an altercation between two groups of students on the campus.
“Subsequently, students from Lalit Kala Kendra attempted to confront us. We have filed a complaint with the police and requested the registration of a case,” Shiva Barole, Pune University unit chief of the ABVP, said.
It may be noted that in 2019, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party leader Upendra Kushwaha had courted controversy when he said the BJP is like the person who plays Sita in ‘Ram Leela’ but smokes cigarette backstage.
“In Ram Leela when the curtain rises a person comes dressed as Sita Mata. People who watch Ram Leela bow their heads out of respect, if you go behind curtain the same Sita Ji can be seen smoking a cigarette. This is the face of BJP; full of evils from inside and it projects goodness from the outside," Kushwaha had said.
