A woman allegedly threw a slipper and stones at a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Pune's Sasane Nagar locality in Hadapsar, triggering outrage on social media.
The incident was captured on CCTV. The statue was protected by a glass structure at the time, and the glass did not break despite the objects being thrown at it.
Videos circulating on social media show people who were angered by the incident later tracing the woman and confronting her. In one of the videos, a group of people can be seen applying violet-coloured ink to her face, another woman is also seen hitting her during the confrontation.
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The woman was then handed over to the Pune Police. The police said appropriate legal action would be taken against her.
A woman abused and threw slippers at the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Pune.
— Team Hindu United (@TeamHinduUnited) August 11, 2026
Locals caught her, other women blackened her face, and handed her over to the police. pic.twitter.com/tQY1tI5aRw
The alleged incident took place near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sasane Nagar, Hadapsar. Videos of both the alleged act and the subsequent confrontation have since been widely shared on social media.
While several social media users expressed anger over the alleged act, others criticised the people who confronted the woman and allegedly assaulted her. They argued that such incidents should be dealt with through legal channels and that no one should take the law into their own hands.
One user wrote, Why would anyone throw slippers at Shivaji Maharaj's Statue,I mean what anyone can think bad of him.
Why would anyone throw slippers at Shivaji Maharaj's Statue,I mean what anyone can think bad of him.
— ???????????????????????????????? ???? ???????????????????????????????????? (@prashantchauha_) August 11, 2026
The incident has also brought renewed attention to the deep emotional and cultural significance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra.
For many people in the state, Shivaji Maharaj is not merely remembered as a historical ruler. His legacy is closely associated with Swarajya, self-respect, courage and justice, as well as Maharashtra's cultural identity.
His influence remains visible across the state's forts, literature, folk traditions, Shiv Jayanti celebrations and public life. His name also frequently features in political discourse across Maharashtra.
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This strong emotional connection is one reason incidents involving alleged disrespect towards statues or images of Shivaji Maharaj often trigger sharp reactions.
The police are now expected to establish what led to the woman's alleged actions and determine further steps based on the CCTV footage and other available evidence.
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