Case against 15 to 20 Pune University students for blocking vice-chancellor's car

Chaturshringi police have registered a case against 15 to 20 students on the allegation that they stopped the car of Savitribai Phule Pune University Vice-Chancellor Dr Suresh Gosavi and Registrar Praphulla Pawar and raised slogans on the university campus. The incident took place on the evening of Wednesday, November 4, on the campus, and came to light on November 6, 2026.

According to the police, the vice-chancellor and the registrar were travelling in an official car from their offices to the vice-chancellor's residence at around 6.15 pm. At that time, a group of student activists allegedly gathered unlawfully in front of the university's main building. The complaint says the group shouted slogans and stopped the car, so the two officials could not proceed.

The police also said that after the altercation, Gosavi and Pawar had to get out of the car and walked to their residence.

Aba Tube, 50, a security supervisor in the university's security department, filed the complaint with the police. The case has been registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on the alleged charge of obstructing government employees from performing their official duties.

The complaint names student representatives Rahul Suse, Abhijit Gore, Ajay Bansode, Kiran Saindane and Mayur Jawale. It also mentions 10 to 15 more activists with them.

By way of background, the university's Management Council had passed a resolution saying protests by students on the campus should be limited to issues concerning the university and students. Several student organisations opposed the decision and held an agitation against the proposed restrictions.

The university administration had assured the protesting students that the matter would be taken up for discussion and a decision at a Management Council meeting. After this assurance, the organisations had called off their agitation.

However, at the Management Council meeting held on Wednesday, the university did not withdraw the circular placing restrictions on protests. In reaction, the students staged a sit-in outside the main building. The car of the vice-chancellor and the registrar was stopped as they were leaving the campus.