Police Arrests Symbiosis Professor In Pune For Objectionable Religious Remarks

The Maharashtra Police on Thursday arrested a 43-year-old faculty member of Pune's Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce (SCAC) over his alleged objectionable remarks about Hindu deities while taking a class. The person has been identified as Ashok Sopan Dhole who teaches Hindi at SCAC.

The police arrested Sopan after a person named Ravindra Padwal (30), who has identified himself as a member of the 'Samast Hindu Bandhav' organisation filed a complaint.

The police have invoked Indian Penal Code Section 295A which pertains to deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.

The video based on which the actions by the college and the police authorities have been initiated is said to be from a lecture for Class 12 held on July 25. "The incident was brought to our notice yesterday (Wednesday) so we immediately took action and suspended the faculty member last night," said the Principal of SCAC, Hrishikesh Soman, on Thursday.

Reportedly, Sopan has been teaching since 2005.

A preliminary inquiry into the allegations was conducted and an FIR was registered. The professor was called for questioning and subsequently arrested."

The FIR by Padwal lists the alleged comments made by Dhole and further states, "The accused has insulted the Hindu religion and has intentionally hurt the religious sentiment, mine and those of the others."

Earlier on Thursday, several members of Hindutva outfits, including the ABVP, staged a protest outside the college on Senapati Bapat Road demanding action against the teacher.