Pune activist Bapat files FIR over Ganesh festival attack, alleges abuse

Vidyanand Bapat, a Pune-based activist known for opposing noise pollution during the Ganesh festival, has filed a First Information Report (FIR) after being attacked on September 4. In his complaint, Bapat alleged that his attacker called him 'anti-Ganesh' and 'atheist' and hurled explicit abuses at him during the incident.

The attack occurred around 11:45 am on Tilak Road, while Bapat was giving an interview to a Marathi news channel. According to the FIR, the attacker said, "You environmentalists are like this only, you create hurdles for our Ganesh festival, you speak against DJs…I will now kill you, I will see how you stay alive."

Police identified the accused as Santosh Chavan and arrested him the same day. He has been booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including voluntarily causing hurt, statements conducing to public mischief, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, criminal intimidation, and obscene acts. Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar assured strict action.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Krushikesh Rawale said preliminary inquiry suggests the attacker disagreed with Bapat's views on the Ganesh festival expressed in recent days. The accused has two prior cases registered against him in 2014 and 2015.

Speaking at a press conference the next day, Bapat said, "They don't have anything to say to oppose me. If they use violence it takes the issue to another dimension. The person has done it for cheap publicity and it makes no difference. Pune is called cultural capital, is this your culture?"

When asked if he would continue protesting against noise pollution during the festival, Bapat referred to the murder of rationalist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, saying, "He left for a morning walk and was murdered. So we can't say what can happen when. But if I am in a physical state to go I will attend the protests."