Pune police book actor for nuisance at dahi handi, actor claims absence at event

Pune police have booked Santosh Juvekar, a Marathi actor, for causing public nuisance at a dahi handi event. The police have filed the case based on posters of the actor which were put up at Aranyeshwar chowk in Sahakarnagar.  Santosh Juvekar, of Zenda-fame, said, "This mandal never contacted me. There was no communication between them and me. They printed my name and posters without my permission. I wasn’t even aware till my friend from Pune called me up last night. He informed me about the matter. I am going to send a notice to them for their unacceptable act."

Members of the Aranyeshwar Utsav Mandal have also been booked by Sahakarnagar police station officials for holding the event and building a stage without police permission. The stage built for the event was blocking traffic at Aranyeshwar chowk in Sahakarnagar. When asked to stop the celebration, the organisers refused to do so, according to the complaint, being looked into by Anil Shewale, senior police inspector, Sahakarnagar police station.

Police have not named any organisers yet, though a case under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 143, 341, 283, 188, 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 5 and 5(a) of Noise Pollution Rules, 2000 along with Sections 135, 140 of the Bombay Police Act, has been registered.