On Wednesday, law enforcement in Pune filed charges against two students and several others regarding a performance that purportedly celebrated the prominent Maoist figure, Madvi Hidma, during a cultural gathering at a government-operated boys’ hostel.
The First Information Report (FIR) was filed by Sub-Inspector Shabbir Shaikh at the Vishrantwadi police station late Wednesday evening.
Senior Police Inspector Mangesh Hande confirmed the registration of the FIR against the students, stating, “No arrests have been made yet. The investigation is ongoing.”
The FIR indicates that the two students, both hailing from Gadchiroli district and enrolled in a Bachelor of Business Administration program at a Pune college, along with others, face charges under sections 197 (1) concerning actions detrimental to national integration, 353 (1) regarding public mischief, and section 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The report asserts that the accused engaged in activities that undermined the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India by presenting misleading content and performing a dance to a song celebrating the dangerous Naxalite figure, Hidma, during the hostel’s cultural event.
The FIR identifies Hidma as the leader of Battalion 1 of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), affiliated with the outlawed CPI-Maoist party.
Attempts to reach the accused students for comments were unsuccessful.
According to officials, a group of nine students, including the two charged, performed a dance to the song “O Re Bandook Wale,” which allegedly glorified Hidma, at the Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Government Hostel in Vishrantwadi, Pune, between April 6 and April 14, in celebration of his 135th birth anniversary.
The police noted that the event’s theme was ‘Save Trees,’ yet the students chose to dance to a song highlighting Hidma, who was reportedly killed by security forces in Andhra Pradesh in 2025.
In previous statements to authorities and the media, the accused claimed ignorance regarding Hidma’s status as a Naxal leader, asserting they selected the song solely because it was popular in the Vidarbha region and had an appealing rhythm.
During their inquiry, the students mentioned that they remixed several songs, including the one about Hidma, which is accessible on YouTube, and performed a dance while dressed to resemble tribal freedom fighters Birsa Munda and Veer Baburao Shedmake.
Vishal Londhe, Assistant Commissioner of the Social Welfare Department in Pune, expressed that, upon initial review, it appears the students may have innocently chosen to perform the song about Hidma.
In November of the previous year, a group of young individuals faced arrest for allegedly chanting slogans in support of Hidma during a protest against air pollution at India Gate in Delhi.
