Pune City Police have filed a case against around 50 members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in connection with alleged stone-pelting and vandalism that occurred at the Congress Bhavan in Pune.

Among those named in the complaint are Dhiraj Ghate, the city president of the BJP, and Dushyant Mohol, the head of the BJP’s youth wing in Pune. The incident is said to have taken place on February 15, with an FIR lodged at the Shivajinagar Police Station based on the allegations made by a local resident.

Details of the Complaint

The complaint was submitted by 42-year-old homemaker Prachi Nitin Dudhane, who resides in Karve Nagar. Dudhane accused a group led by the BJP’s local office-bearers of gathering at the Congress Bhavan between 12:30 PM and 2 PM, during which they reportedly raised slogans, threw stones, injured three Congress party workers, and damaged vehicles. The police confirmed that no arrests have occurred thus far following the incident.

Legal Proceedings and Police Investigation

The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including BNS Section 118(1), 189(2), 189(3), 324(4), and 191(2), along with relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act. Senior police officials have visited the scene, and electronic evidence, including footage, has been collected to aid in the investigation, which is still ongoing.

Context of the Confrontation

The stone-pelting incident occurred amid rising tensions between BJP and Congress workers over comments made by Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal regarding historical figures Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan.

This confrontation happened after an FIR was filed against Sapkal for allegedly comparing Tipu Sultan to Shivaji Maharaj, a statement that reportedly offended many who hold the Maratha king in high esteem. Following this, Dhiraj Ghate filed an official complaint, emphasizing the impact of Sapkal’s remarks on local sentiments.

Protests and Escalation

In response to Sapkal’s statement, BJP workers organized a protest outside the Congress Bhavan, while a separate group of Congress supporters gathered in defense of their state president. Police deployed multiple teams to the area to ensure public safety as the situation unfolded. However, the tensions escalated around 1 PM on the day of the protests, leading to the reported incidents of stone-pelting, resulting in injuries and property damage.

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