Posters of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar seen near a protest site in Pune. File.
| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI
The Pune police have lodged an FIR against 15 persons, including representatives of MPSC students, following a protest on Shastri Road in Navi Peth on October 1. The FIR states that the group gathered without permission and blocked the road, causing disruptions to traffic and public peace.
According to the FIR registered on October 9 by Police Constable Sameer Jayram Pawar, the protest took place from 4 p.m. to midnight on October 1 in front of 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, 112, and 117 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951.
The FIR states that on September 25, the student representatives sought permission to protest on October 2 at Lokmanya Tilak Chowk (Alka Talkies), Ahilya Abhyasika, and S.M. Joshi Pool. The police granted written permission on September 26 for S.M. Joshi Pool under conditions.
On September 30, the representatives met the Chief Minister. Following discussions, they submitted a letter suspending the October 2 protest. The police then cancelled the permission order. The FIR states that on October 1, around 4 p.m., the representatives gathered at Indulal Complex without prior notice or permission. The 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 mentions that the police had issued prohibitory orders under Section 37 of the Maharashtra Police Act from September 29 to October 12 across the Pune police commissionerate. Another order under Section 163 of the BNSS was issued for areas including Shastri Road. The police said the group violated these orders.
The accused include 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, Siddharth Jambhulkar, and Sahebrao Kshirsagar.
NCP (Sharad Pawar) city president Vishal Tambe said the government filed cases against examinees. He demanded the withdrawal of the cases and said the party will launch a protest if the cases are not withdrawn.
Akshay Kamble said the State government must stop intimidating students. He said threats will not force them to withdraw the demand for the resignation of the MPSC Chairman. He said the struggle will continue until the Chairman resigns.
Siddhant Jambhulkar said the police administration filed FIRs to intimidate students. He said students across Maharashtra stand with the protest, and the FIRs will not silence their voice or weaken their resolve. He said the struggle will continue through the ballot box.
Published – October 10, 2026 02:50 am IST
