'Objectionable' online post about Sharad Pawar: Actor Ketaki Chitale remanded in police custody till May 18

Organisation in Pune demanded that Chitale be charged with treason over alleged reference to Sant Tukaram in post shared by her

Actor Ketaki Chitale is arrested for allegedly sharing derogatory post on Facebook about Sharad Pawar: Twitter/@SpeaksKshatriya

TT Bureau, PTI   |   Thane   |    15.05.22  : A court here in Maharashtra on Sunday remanded Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale in police custody till May 18 following her arrest over allegedly sharing an objectionable post on social media about NCP chief Sharad Pawar, an official said.

Later, the Pune cyber police, who have also registered a case against Chitale, said they will seek the actor's custody after her remand with the Thane police ends.

Besides, an organisation in Pune demanded that Chitale be charged with treason over the alleged reference to Sant Tukaram in the post shared by her.

Chitale (29), a film and TV actress, was arrested by the Thane police on Saturday over a post she allegedly shared on her Facebook page.

She was on Sunday produced before a holiday court which remanded her in the Thane police custody till May 18, a senior police official said.

Later in the day, Pune cyber police inspector Dagadu Hake said, "We have booked Chitale and will seek her custody after her remand with the Thane police gets over."

Meanwhile, the Sant Tukaram Dehu Sansthan has written to Dehu police in Pune, demanding action against Chitale over the alleged reference to the 17th century poet in the post shared by the actor.

"Not just Sant Tukaram's name, but one should not use the name of any saint to gain such publicity. She (Chitale) should be booked under charges related to treason," Ajit More, the sansthan trustee, said while talking to reporters.

Chitale and 23-year-old pharmacy student Nikhil Bhamre were arrested on Saturday for allegedly sharing objectionable social media posts about Pawar.

While Chitale was arrested by the Thane police, Bhamre was arrested in Nashik for allegedly making an objectionable comment on Twitter against Pawar, whose party shares power with the Shiv Sena and Congress in Maharashtra.

The post shared by Chitale, which was in verse form, was purportedly written by someone else. It contained phrases like "hell is waiting" and "you hate Brahmins", allegedly referring to the NCP president.

Chitale was booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 500 (defamation), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 505 (2) (making, publishing or circulating any statement, rumour or report promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes) and 153 A (spreading disharmony among people).