The Maharashtra government has remained non-committal on demands to implement the Shakti criminal law following the rape and murder case in Nasarapur in Pune district, even as public anger mounts and opposition parties push for stricter legal action.

The incident has triggered widespread outrage across the state, with calls intensifying for the accused to be awarded capital punishment. While leaders across the political spectrum have backed the demand for the death penalty through existing legal provisions, the opposition has argued that only the Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020 can ensure such punishment.

Govt signals alternative legal route

Eknath Shinde said after a cabinet meeting on 5 May that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had directed officials to draft stricter provisions to bar parole for those convicted in sexual offence cases.

However, a similar law introduced during Fadnavis’ earlier tenure — restricting parole for sexual offenders — was struck down by the courts after being in force for nearly three years.

What is the Shakti law?

The Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, passed by the earlier Maha Vikas Aghadi government, was modelled on Andhra Pradesh’s Disha law. It proposes stringent measures, including:

• Death penalty for rape convicts

• Completion of investigation within one month

• Severe punishment, including death, in acid attack cases

The Bill was sent to the President for approval but did not receive assent as some provisions were found inconsistent with central laws such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The Centre had argued that the BNS already incorporates stringent provisions for sexual offences, making additional state-level laws redundant.

Modified provisions cleared in 2026

Earlier this year, the Maharashtra Assembly passed the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2026, incorporating select provisions from the Shakti Bill — particularly those related to digital sexual harassment and protection of the identity of acid attack survivors.

These amendments have been sent to the Centre for approval.

The demand to implement the Shakti law is not new. In 2024, opposition parties had raised similar calls after the Badlapur sexual assault case involving two schoolgirls.

Rohit Pawar has now demanded a special one-day Assembly session to pass the Shakti law.

Raj Thackeray also questioned the recurrence of such crimes in Maharashtra, asking, “Why are such incidents happening repeatedly? Where is the government?”

Public anger peaks

The current case has further intensified public anger, with protests and demands for strict punishment against the accused, identified as 65-year-old Bhimrao Kamble.

Kamble had previously been arrested in two rape cases, according to reports.

The victim’s father said no political leader should visit the family until justice is delivered.

While Chief Minister Fadnavis has said the government will ensure the accused is punished under existing laws, the opposition continues to insist that implementing the Shakti law is necessary to send a strong deterrent message.

The issue now sits at the intersection of legal feasibility, political messaging and public sentiment, with pressure mounting on the state government to take a clear stand.

Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday, 15 May, announced that NAFED would procure onions at Rs 12.35 per kg, during a programme in Maharashtra’s Satara district. However, onion farmers in the state are far from satisfied with the procurement price, arguing that it is too low considering cultivation, labour and transportation costs.

Farmers are demanding a subsidy of at least Rs 1,500-2,000 per quintal and a minimum support price of Rs 30 per kg. They have also sought the immediate release of pending onion subsidies and financial assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh.

Farmers across Maharashtra, especially small and marginal cultivators, are deeply distressed by the ongoing price crash. In some mandis, onion prices have reportedly fallen to as low as 50 paise to Re 1 per kg. In Nashik and several other major agricultural market committees, prices have dropped to between Rs 300 and Rs 1,000 per quintal, far below production costs.

Farmers blame the Centre’s export restrictions for depressing onion prices and fuelling losses.

Maharashtra is India’s largest onion-producing state, accounting for nearly 35.45 per cent of the country’s total production. According to market reports for May, there is a significant mismatch between supply and demand in the state. Production has reportedly risen by nearly 70 per cent, but weak domestic and overseas demand, particularly from Gulf countries, has kept prices under pressure.

In Solapur mandi, onion prices have reportedly fallen so sharply due to bumper production and weak demand that farmers are struggling to recover even their basic costs, with some allegedly being forced to burn their crop in the fields.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed Chouhan’s announcement of the new procurement rate, saying farmers had been facing severe distress because of collapsing onion prices, which in some places had fallen to Rs 1-2 per kg. “Farmers were being forced to throw away their produce. This decision will provide them major relief,” Fadnavis said.

The Opposition, however, questioned the government’s policies and dismissed the announcement as an “event”, demanding that farmers receive fair compensation for their produce.

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetti blamed the Centre’s policies for the sharp decline in onion prices and described the government’s assistance as inadequate.

According to Shetti, the government had failed to provide meaningful relief to farmers. He demanded that onions be removed from the Essential Commodities Act and that export restrictions be lifted completely.

Despite the procurement announcement, anger among onion farmers showed little sign of easing. Farmers staged a road blockade protest on the Nagar-Kalyan highway in Ahmednagar on Thursday and threw onions onto the roads to express their anger. In Mumbai too, protesters demonstrated outside Mantralaya and hurled onions in protest, following which police detained several demonstrators.

The onion farmers had joined a protest march led by Raju Shetti along with mango and cashew farmers. The march had the support of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar-led NCP and several other Opposition parties.

Police, however, did not permit the protesters to march towards the Chief Minister’s official residence, Varsha, and stopped several senior leaders and workers at Azad Maidan.

Thousands of residents of Mumbai's Dharavi, widely regarded as Asia’s largest slum, took out a massive protest march on 4 May against the alleged “dubious role” of the Adani Group and the Maharashtra government in the Dharavi redevelopment project.

Despite heavy police deployment, the rally proceeded from Kumbharwada in Dharavi to the Adani office in Matunga. Protesters, carrying banners of the Dharavi Bachao Andolan, raised slogans of 'Adani hatao, Dharavi bachao'. The march was led by Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad.

Taking an aggressive stance, Gaikwad described the redevelopment project as a “major scam”. She alleged that the government was declaring Dharavi residents ineligible in order to benefit the Adani Group and was “conspiring to render them homeless”. She claimed that the ongoing survey in Dharavi was violating norms, with residents being marked ineligible without consultation.

Gaikwad also questioned the proposed transfer of valuable Mumbai land — such as salt pan areas, mudflats in Malvani, and Deonar — in the name of the Dharavi project. Alleging a Modi–Adani nexus, she accused the Mahayuti government of altering rules to facilitate land transfers. She added that the agitation would continue until Dharavi residents receive their due rights.

Protesters demanded that all residents — eligible or otherwise — be provided housing within Dharavi itself, with 500 sq. ft homes in exchange for existing dwellings, along with equivalent compensation for shops and warehouses. They also called for transparency in the survey process and opposed any forced displacement outside Dharavi.

Gaikwad clarified that neither she nor the residents opposed redevelopment per se, but objected to the current model and survey process. “There is manipulation in the survey, and a conspiracy to render 96 per cent of Dharavi residents ineligible,” she alleged. She further claimed that middlemen were active in the area and that residents were being intimidated by the police.

Alleging a lack of transparency in the redevelopment process, she asserted that Dharavi belongs to its residents. “This land is theirs, these homes are theirs, and they will not leave,” she said, adding that locals must be consulted in the project.

Gaikwad termed the redevelopment exercise “one of the biggest land scams” under the guise of urban renewal, accusing the government of tweaking rules to favour the Adani Group. She said Dharavi residents were self-reliant and questioned the role of “outsiders” in shaping their future. “They cannot be pushed onto dumping grounds,” she said, adding that the struggle would continue until residents are ensured dignified rehabilitation.

A statement by Jay Pawar backing his mother and deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar as Maharashtra’s first woman chief minister in 2029 has triggered fresh political churn within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.

The alliance was already grappling with simmering discontent from deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who has continued to signal his own chief ministerial ambitions. Now, with the Ajit Pawar faction also staking claim to the top post, concerns are growing within the BJP that the chief minister’s chair could slip from its hands in 2029. Leaders from both the BJP and the Shinde camp have reacted sharply to Jay Pawar’s remarks.

The BJP had engineered a split in the original Shiv Sena through Shinde to come to power and subsequently made him chief minister. However, after the 2024 Assembly election, the BJP replaced Shinde with Devendra Fadnavis. The move reportedly upset Shinde, who has frequently expressed his displeasure indirectly, often retreating to his village and spending time farming.

Prahar Sanghatana leader Bachchu Kadu, after joining the Shinde camp, has openly demanded that Shinde be reinstated as chief minister. “We do not want to see Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister. We want our leader Shinde in that role,” he has said publicly.

Late NCP leader Ajit Pawar had joined the Mahayuti alliance after engineering a split in his uncle Sharad Pawar’s NCP with the ambition of eventually becoming chief minister. However, his death in an air crash in January left that dream unfulfilled.

His son Jay recently said the people of Baramati had always wanted to see Ajit Pawar as chief minister and that Sunetra Pawar was now working with the same dedication. “We hope that after the 2029 elections, she will fulfil Dada’s (Ajit Pawar) dream and become the chief minister of the state,” he said.

Following the statement, large posters and flex banners surfaced across Baramati declaring: 'Respected Sunetra Vahini Ajitdada Pawar… Yes, chief minister! The entire Maharashtra wants to see you as the state’s first woman chief minister.'

The posters have not only drawn public attention but also intensified unease within the Mahayuti alliance. At the same time, the Pawar family appears to be politically regrouping to consolidate its influence. Sharad Pawar’s daughter and MP Supriya Sule welcomed the demand for Sunetra Pawar’s elevation and said, “If Sunetra Pawar becomes chief minister, I will be the first to garland her.”

Leaders from alliance parties, however, responded with sarcasm and caution. BJP Mumbai president Amit Satam said there was nothing wrong in aspiring to become chief minister, but added that the final decision would rest with the people of Maharashtra. “Every party wants its leader to become CM. There is nothing wrong in that. But the final decision will be taken by Maharashtra’s 12.5 crore people,” he said.

BJP minister Jaykumar Gore remarked that merely expressing a desire was not enough to become chief minister and that adequate legislative support and a majority were essential.

Shinde camp leader Bharat Gogawale also took a swipe at the development, saying perhaps Jay Pawar had begun dreaming of the chief minister’s post after the alliance’s recent bypoll success. “We will have to wait and see what happens in 2029,” he said.

The jockeying over future chief ministerial claims has exposed growing internal tensions within the Mahayuti alliance, where the BJP, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the Ajit Pawar camp are all attempting to expand their political influence.

The BJP has been trying to weaken Shinde’s hold over Thane, while Ajit Pawar’s faction is increasingly being viewed as vulnerable after his death. Yet the Pawar family appears determined to protect its political legacy through renewed unity.

At the same time, rising incidents of crimes against women in Maharashtra are beginning to affect the popularity of chief minister Fadnavis, who also handles the home department. The fallout, political observers believe, could hurt the BJP-led alliance in the 2029 Assembly election.

Sharad Pawar has written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern over the Centre’s recent austerity appeal and demanding that an all-party meeting be convened to discuss the emerging economic situation and its implications.

Pawar, a former defence minister and former agriculture minister, wrote the letter on X two days after Modi appealed to citizens to conserve fuel, avoid foreign travel and postpone gold purchases in view of rising global energy prices and pressure on foreign exchange reserves caused by the continuing West Asia conflict.

The letter was issued ahead of Modi’s proposed five-day foreign tour from 15 to 20 May, during which he is expected to visit the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.

Pawar urged Modi to personally chair an all-party meeting on the issue, saying decisions involving national economic concerns should be taken after consultations with opposition parties, economists and experts.

He said the Prime Minister’s appeal asking citizens to reduce fuel consumption, avoid gold purchases and limit foreign travel had created “unease and anxiety” among ordinary people, industry and investors.

Pawar also expressed concern over the possibility of shortages of fuel and other essential resources because of the worsening situation in West Asia and criticised what he described as sudden announcements with potentially long-term economic consequences.

The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader said the government should take expert advice before implementing major economic measures and stressed that consensus-building on issues affecting the national economy was in the country’s larger interest.

Raj Thackeray attacks Centre’s policies

Raj Thackeray, chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, also criticised Modi’s appeal in a separate letter posted on X.

Questioning the Centre’s policies, Thackeray asked why citizens should bear the burden of policy failures and suggested that the government should convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the economic situation.

BJP leaders draw criticism over ‘mixed signals’

The austerity appeal has also triggered criticism over alleged contradictions within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Mumbai BJP president Amit Satam came under attack after undertaking a nala inspection tour with a convoy of around 25 vehicles, prompting opposition parties to accuse the BJP of double standards on fuel conservation.

Varsha Gaikwad of the Indian National Congress shared videos of the convoy on social media and criticised what she described as continuing “VIP culture” despite calls for austerity.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Government has begun implementing a series of cost-cutting measures following Modi’s remarks.

The office of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker has cancelled a proposed Japan visit by 12 MLAs, while the state government has decided not to send any official delegation to the Cannes Film Festival in France.

Under the new guidelines, ministers will now require prior approval from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis before using government aircraft, chartered planes or helicopters, and officials have been encouraged to conduct meetings online.

BJP MLA Pravin Darekar has also reportedly booked an electric vehicle following Modi’s appeal, amid indications that governments may increasingly promote EV adoption as part of fuel conservation measures.

Farmers across Maharashtra are facing mounting distress after unseasonal rain and hailstorms damaged standing crops while onion prices — often called “red gold” in the state — crashed to as low as 50 paise to Re 1 per kilogram in several mandis, triggering anger and protests among cultivators.

Large parts of Maharashtra witnessed unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms during March and April, damaging rabi crops across more than 1.59 lakh acres of agricultural land. The worst-hit regions include Nashik, Ahmednagar and parts of Marathwada, where onion, wheat, mango, cashew, grape and pomegranate crops suffered extensive losses.

Among them, onion farmers have been hit hardest. Around 44,000 hectares of onion cultivation has reportedly been affected, while market prices have collapsed due to record production, weak exports, inadequate storage infrastructure and declining demand.

Farmer organisations led by the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana have announced a protest march in Mumbai on 15 May. The march will begin from Girgaum Chowpatty and proceed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s official residence Varsha. Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray has extended support to the agitation.

Farmers burn crops in despair

Maharashtra is among India’s largest onion-producing states, with lakhs of farmers dependent on the crop in districts such as Nashik, Ahmednagar, Dharashiv, Beed, Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

Agriculture market experts say rising cultivation costs — including seeds, fertilisers, labour, irrigation and transportation — have sharply increased farmers’ input burden while mandi prices have collapsed below production cost. In several markets, farmers are reportedly receiving only Rs 2 to Rs 5 per kilogram, while some distress sales have occurred at Re 1 or below.

In Dharashiv district’s Tintaraj village, onion farmer Bhagwan Sable allegedly set fire to his own crop after failing to secure viable prices in the market.

Sable had cultivated onions on nearly four acres of land, with produce from around two-and-a-half acres already harvested and packed into 600 sacks. According to him, the crop required an investment of around Rs 3–4 lakh, but mandi prices had fallen to around Re 1 per kilogram, making sale economically unviable.

Similarly, farmer Prakash Galdhar from Varudi village in Paithan taluka of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district reportedly received only Rs 100 per quintal for 1,262 kg of onions packed in 25 sacks — effectively around Re 1 per kilogram.

Demand for MSP, export relief

Farmer groups say onion cultivators are once again staring at mounting debt after hopes of income recovery collapsed this season.

They are demanding an MSP (Minimum Support Price)-like mechanism for onions, government procurement centres and relaxation in export policy restrictions to ensure remunerative prices for farmers.

Farmers have also criticised the Maharashtra government’s compensation announcement of Rs 22,000 per hectare for crop damage, calling it grossly inadequate compared to actual losses.

Farmer organisations claim that mango and cashew crops in several parts of the Konkan region have also been severely damaged, causing losses worth crores of rupees to cultivators.

Police in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district have registered a case against five tribal youths after a video allegedly showed young men and women dancing to a song praising slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma during a wedding ceremony in a village in Etapalli taluka.

The case was registered after a video clip from the event circulated on social media, police sources said. The incident marks the first such case reported from Gadchiroli, a district that the Centre and Maharashtra government recently declared “Naxal-free”.

According to police, the wedding function was held on 6 May at the residence of Sandeep Hichami in Krishnar village. During the night, several youths were dancing to songs played on a DJ system. Around 11:45 pm, Police Inspector Machhindra Nagargoje and a patrolling team allegedly reached the village after hearing loud music and instructed organisers to stop the DJ as the permitted time limit had passed.

Police sources said that on the following day, a constable identified as Roshan Puram received a video clip through social media showing around 40–50 youths dancing to a song containing references to Hidma. The police subsequently began an inquiry into the incident.

During questioning, Sandeep Hichami reportedly told police that the DJ system had been hired from Shankar Hichami for the wedding ceremony and that traditional tribal dances were being performed. He allegedly stated that he was inside the house for some time and did not know who played the Hidma-related song. Police said the DJ operators were identified as Aryan Hichami and Sharad Kando.

According to the police inquiry, a man identified as Baburao Kando allegedly made provocative remarks against the police administration during the event. Police claimed he questioned the police presence in the tribal village and allegedly praised Maoists and Hidma before insisting that the DJ operator play the song. Another accused, Chaitu Telami, allegedly provided the song to the DJ operators.

Based on a complaint filed by constable Roshan Puram, Etapalli Police registered an FIR against Shankar Hichami, Baburao Kando, Chaitu Telami, Aryan Hichami and Sharad Kando under various provisions of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) and the Mumbai Police Act. The investigation is being conducted by Woman Police Sub-Inspector Pratiksha Wanve under the supervision of Police Inspector Nagargoje.

The incident comes weeks after a similar case was registered in Pune in April, where two tribal students from Gadchiroli were booked after allegedly dancing to a Hidma-related song during a programme organised on the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar.

The development has renewed debate in the region over tribal identity, cultural expression and the state’s approach towards Maoist-linked symbolism in districts historically affected by Left Wing Extremism.

Gadchiroli has long been one of Maharashtra’s most Maoist-affected districts. While the Centre and the state government recently claimed the district had become free from Naxal influence, security records still indicate the presence of some active Maoist cadres in the region.

The district is also witnessing rapid industrial expansion, with the Maharashtra government planning large-scale steel and mining investments reportedly worth around Rs 50,000 crore.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar on Thursday, 14 May sharply questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latter's recent appeal asking Indians to conserve fuel and avoid buying gold, asking why the government waited until after election results to acknowledge the gravity of the economic situation.

Pawar said if the country was indeed facing such a serious crisis due to the escalating West Asia conflict and global instability, the government should have alerted people earlier instead of waiting until the elections were over.

“Why did the prime minister take so long to make these decisions? Why wait till the election results? Why were people not made aware during the elections themselves?” Pawar asked at a press conference held at Modi Baug in Pune.

Against the backdrop of rising tensions in West Asia and fears of a wider economic fallout, Modi recently urged citizens to save fuel and avoid unnecessary gold purchases. Referring to the situation as serious and potentially damaging for the economy, Pawar said the prime minister must convene an all-party meeting immediately and attend it personally.

“Over the past three-four years, all-party meetings have been held. But the prime minister did not attend any of them. If he is now trying to tell the country that the situation is grave and may have serious consequences, then his personal presence becomes important,” Pawar said.

He added that Modi’s warnings should not be dismissed lightly and described the present circumstances as “worrying”. But Pawar reserved some of his sharpest criticism for what he called the performative reactions of ministers and leaders in Maharashtra’s ruling alliance following the prime minister’s appeal.

“I have been watching television since morning. Some people are riding motorcycles to Mantralaya (the Maharashtra secretariat) with the chief minister. Some are walking. One minister even said though he is a minister, he has reduced his convoy from 17 vehicles to eight,” Pawar said. “I was stunned. Why did he need 17 vehicles in the first place? It is beyond my understanding.”

In a pointed swipe at the political theatrics surrounding the austerity appeal, Pawar remarked sarcastically that people would take the exercise seriously only if the chief minister began travelling to Mantralaya by motorcycle every single day.

“If this is merely for one or two days, it means nothing. Do not make a spectacle of cuts and savings,” he said, questioning how long ministers would actually follow the prime minister’s advice.

Pawar said India had faced similar crises in the past and stressed that there were several ways for governments to reduce administrative expenditure meaningfully instead of resorting to symbolic gestures.

The NCP (SP) chief also criticised Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over his recent remarks against Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. “I saw the Maharashtra chief minister’s statement yesterday and today. The language he used for Rahul Gandhi was inappropriate,” Pawar said.

“Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition. He is also a member of Parliament. The post of Leader of the Opposition is a constitutional position under the Lok Sabha. A chief minister should not use such language for a person occupying that office.”

Pawar also raised concerns over the weakening rupee and asked whether the economic turbulence could be blamed solely on tensions involving Iran. “The rupee is falling against the dollar. Why is this happening? We need to think about it,” he said. “It is true that there is an issue involving Iran and there are side effects because of that. But is that the only reason? And if that was the reason, why were these decisions not taken immediately after the war began?”

In another pointed remark aimed at the government’s messaging on austerity, Pawar referred to Modi’s recent visit to the Somnath temple after turning 75. “There is nothing wrong in visiting the temple,” he said. “But six Air Force aircraft participated in the programme overhead. The question is this: if the situation is truly serious, then everyone must display seriousness.”

Massive outrage broke out in Nasrapur village of Maharashtra’s Pune district after a three-year-old girl was raped and murdered, with angry villagers demanding that the 65-year-old accused be handed over to them so that he could be publicly hanged.

Protesters raised slogans demanding that the accused be handed over, saying they would execute him themselves. A complete shutdown was observed in Nasrapur and surrounding villages, while villagers also blocked the Pune–Satara highway in protest.

The incident has revived memories of the recent Badlapur rape and murder case, once again raising serious concerns over women’s safety in Maharashtra.

The opposition condemned the incident and targeted the government led by Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio. Opposition leaders alleged that incidents of violence against women have increased during his tenure and reiterated their demand for the implementation of the Shakti law.

The proposed Shakti law in Maharashtra provides for time-bound investigations (within 15–30 days) and stringent punishment, including the death penalty, in cases of crimes against women and children such as rape and acid attacks. The law is currently awaiting approval from the central government.

Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad said the law had been drafted during the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and urged the current administration to take steps towards its implementation. Former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar also criticised the delay.

According to police, the victim had come to stay with relatives during her summer holidays. On May 1, the accused allegedly lured the child to a cattle shed, where he raped and murdered her before hiding the body in dung. The crime came to light on May 2 after CCTV footage showed the accused taking the child away.

Police arrested the accused and produced him before a court, which remanded him to custody until May 7. Officials said he is a repeat offender, with previous cases of rape involving a minor girl and an elderly woman, for which he had been convicted. He had been out on bail since 2019 before completing his sentence.

When Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, who is also the guardian minister of Pune district, visited the victim’s family, she faced protests from angry villagers. She assured that the case would be tried in a fast-track court and that the accused would face the harshest punishment, including the death penalty if convicted. She also facilitated a phone call between the villagers and the Chief Minister, but tensions remained high.

Opposition parties, including Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), strongly criticised the law and order situation and demanded capital punishment for the accused, citing the gravity of the crime.

The incident has also highlighted a worrying rise in crimes against women and children in Pune district. Official data show that cases under the POCSO Act increased from 256 in 2024 to 311 in 2025. Pune city recorded 280 rape cases and 613 incidents of molestation in 2025.

In March and April 2026, several serious cases involving minors were reported in Pune, including a gang rape of a 15-year-old girl with disabilities, further intensifying concerns over safety in the region.

Authorities have stepped up security in the area as investigations continue, even as public anger and political pressure mount for swift justice.

The language controversy in Maharashtra shows no signs of fading. Opposition has erupted over proposals to teach Marathi to migrant taxi and autorickshaw drivers. Before that, the state witnessed protests against the introduction of Hindi from Classes 1 to 5 under the three-language formula. Now, the latest flashpoint is a proposed Hindi proficiency examination for gazetted officers and non-gazetted government employees.

The examination, scheduled for 28 June, has been postponed after strong opposition from the Thackeray brothers and several pro-Marathi groups. Facing mounting criticism, the Devendra Fadnavis government has temporarily deferred the test.

This was not the first time such an examination was to be conducted. Under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Hindi Language Examination) Rules, 1976, government officials and employees have long been required to demonstrate knowledge of Hindi. The rule makes Hindi proficiency compulsory for government service.

Employees who had not studied Hindi as a subject up to Class 10 during their schooling were required to pass the Hindi language examination within a stipulated period after joining service. Failure to clear the examination could lead to penalties such as withholding of salary increments or obstacles in promotions.

Language director Arun Gite had issued a notification announcing that the examination would be held on 28 June in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Applications were to be submitted by 20 May.

However, the notification triggered a fresh political and cultural debate over language priorities in the state, with critics describing it as an attempt to impose Hindi.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray criticised the move in a post on X, writing: “The decision to conduct a Hindi language proficiency examination for officers and employees serving in the Maharashtra government is beyond comprehension. Maharashtra’s identity is linked to the Marathi language and culture. The question arises: whose interests are being served by this attempt to impose Hindi on state employees? Maharashtra will not accept this double standard of granting classical language status to Marathi while simultaneously imposing Hindi.”

Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) also issued an open warning to the Fadnavis government, saying that if the examination was conducted, the government would have to bear responsibility for any situation arising in the state.

Dr Deepak Pawar, president of the Marathi Abhyas Kendra, also criticised the move. He questioned the rationale behind testing employees’ Hindi proficiency when administrative communication in the state is already conducted in Marathi.

“Hindi is neither Maharashtra’s official language nor essential for day-to-day administration,” he argued, while also questioning whether similar examinations existed in non-Hindi-speaking states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or Gujarat.

Calling the move unnecessary, Pawar alleged that it weakened Marathi and amounted to a waste of administrative resources. He demanded that the examination be scrapped altogether.

Amid the growing backlash, industries and Marathi language minister Uday Samant from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction announced on Wednesday, 6 May that the examination had been cancelled for now.

“I discussed the matter with the department’s principal secretary, after which it was decided to postpone the examination. We will examine whether the Hindi examination is necessary in future. If it is not required, we will decide against conducting it,” Samant said.

He added that the examination had been conducted annually under the 1976 rules, but the government would now review whether those rules remained relevant in 2026 before taking any further decision.

Sharad Pawar faction MLA Rohit Pawar on Wednesday, 13 May has made the sensational claim that the BJP is running 'Operation Lotus' (the political strategy allegedly used by the BJP to 'capture' opposition leaders) against its own allies in the ruling alliance — the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP and the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. He also alleged that the operation is being carried out with the support of senior Ajit faction leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare.

According to Rohit Pawar, around 22 MLAs associated with the Ajit Pawar camp are preparing to contest the 2029 Assembly election on BJP tickets. Similarly, preparations are underway for nearly 18 MLAs from the Shinde faction to contest on the BJP symbol as well.

Media reports suggest that leaders and workers in the Ajit Pawar camp are internally pushing for his widow and deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar to be elevated further in the power structure. At the same time, there are murmurs within the Shinde faction projecting deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde as the next chief minister. These developments have reportedly caused unease within the BJP leadership.

According to Rohit Pawar, the BJP has therefore begun using 'Operation Lotus' to weaken both factions from within. He also claimed that Ajit Pawar’s ambition of becoming chief minister had remained unfulfilled after the plane crash in January that killed him and altered Maharashtra’s political equations. However, Shinde, he alleged, has been quietly working towards the top post, something the BJP leadership is closely watching.

At present, the possibility of a merger between the two NCP factions appears remote. However, Rohit Pawar had earlier also accused Patel and Tatkare of weakening Ajit Pawar’s party from within.

As party chief, Sunetra Pawar is now said to be closely monitoring developments within the organisation. Recently, the party submitted a list of its executive committee members to the Election Commission from which the names of several senior leaders, including Patel and Tatkare, were missing. The move was seen not only as an internal clean-up exercise but also as an attempt to promote younger faces within the party.

The new list included names such as national general-secretary Parth Pawar and national secretary Jay Pawar. However, amid speculation of internal rebellion, Sunetra Pawar quickly issued a clarification on X, saying the omission of senior leaders’ names was due to a “technical and clerical error” and would be rectified.

After the list became public, Tatkare visited Sharad Pawar at his residence, Silver Oak, triggering fresh political speculation. Tatkare later clarified that he had only gone to inquire about Pawar senior’s health and that no political discussion had taken place during the meeting.

Rohit Pawar also claimed that some MLAs who had joined the Ajit Pawar camp under pressure now wanted to return to the Sharad Pawar faction.

Leaders from the Ajit Pawar camp, however, have outright rejected Rohit Pawar’s allegations and asserted that the party remains united under Sunetra Pawar’s leadership. Local BJP leaders too dismissed Rohit Pawar’s remarks as politically motivated statements aimed at creating confusion within the ruling alliance.