Pune police filed FIR against 15 over MPSC protest at Navi Peth

Posters of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar seen near the protest site in Pune. File. | Photo credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI

The Pune police filed an FIR against 15 persons, including MPSC student representatives, following a protest on Shastri Road in Navi Peth on October 1. The FIR states that the group assembled without permission and blocked the road, causing disruption to traffic and public peace.

According to the FIR registered on October 9 by police constable Sameer Jayram Pawar, the protest was held from 4 pm to midnight on October 1 outside the Indulal complex. The police invoked sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, including 189(2), 189(3), 189(5), 126(2), 223, 270 and 292, along with sections 37(1)(c), 135, 1195 of the Maharash Police Act and Act.

The FIR states that on September 25, student representatives sought permission to protest on October 2 at Lokmanya Tilak Chowk (Alka Talkies), Ahilya Abhyasika and SM Joshi Pool. On September 26, the police granted written permission to SM Joshi Pool subject to conditions.

On September 30, the representatives met the Chief Minister. After discussions, they submitted a letter suspending the October 2 protest. Police then revoked the permit order. The FIR states that on October 1 around 4:00 pm, the agents met at Indulal Complex without prior notice and permission. Police said the group raised slogans against the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) and the state government, blocked vehicles and disrupted traffic and public peace.

The FIR states that the police issued prohibitory orders under Section 37 of the Maharashtra Police Act from September 29 to October 12 across the Pune police station. Another order under Section 163 of the BNSS was issued for areas including Shastri Road. Police said the group violated those orders.

Among the accused are Pramod Patil, Akshay Kamble, Aniket Deshmane, Praveen Mahadev Patil, Rishikesh Gangurde, Priyanka Chaudhary, Nitin Gite, Somnath Chavan, Omkar Patil, Gajanan Shelke, Ajit Kakade, Siddharth Panchange, Sanket Kanse, Sidrsakarshi, Sambrsakarshi, Sambrath Jamb.

NCP (Sharad Pawar) city president Vishal Tambe said that the government has filed a case against those under investigation. He demanded withdrawal of the cases and said the party would file a protest if the cases were not withdrawn.

Akshay Kamble said the state government must stop intimidating students. According to him, the threats will not force them to withdraw the request for the MPSC chairman’s resignation. He said the fight will continue until the chairman steps down.

Siddhant Jambhulkar said that the police administration filed the FIR to intimidate the students. He said students across Maharashtra are protesting and the FIR will not silence their voice or weaken their resolve. He said the fight will continue through the ballot box.

Published – 10 Oct 2026 02:50 IST