FIR Filed Against 15 After Unapproved MPSC Student Protest in Pune

Pune police have lodged an FIR against 15 individuals, including student representatives of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), after an unpermitted protest on Shastri Road in Navi Peth on October 1. The protest began around 4 p.m. at the Indulal Complex and continued until midnight, during which the crowd raised slogans against the MPSC and the state government, blocked vehicles and disturbed traffic and public peace. Police Constable Sameer Jayram Pawar registered the FIR on October 9, invoking several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023—189(2), 189(3), 189(5), 126(2), 223, 270, 292—as well as sections 37(1)(c), 135, 112 and 117 of the Maharashtra Police Act 1951. The FIR notes that the group had earlier sought permission on September 25 to protest on October 2 at three locations, received written permission for S.M. Joshi Pool on September 26, but cancelled the plan after meeting the Chief Minister on September 30. Despite the cancellation, the protesters gathered without notice on October 1, violating prohibitory orders issued under Section 37 of the Maharashtra Police Act from September 29 to October 12 and an order under Section 163 of the BNS covering Shastri Road. The named 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 city president Vishal Tambe demanded withdrawal of the cases and warned of a party protest if the demand is ignored. Akshay Kamble said the state must stop intimidating students and pledged to continue demanding the MPSC chairman’s resignation, while Siddhant Jambhulkar claimed the FIRs aim to silence students but vowed the struggle will persist through the ballot box.

Context

The incident highlights how protest permissions and prohibitory orders intersect with student activism in Maharashtra, and how legal action is used by authorities to enforce compliance with public‑order rules.