21 May,2026 10:00 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
In a social media post, Vikas Lawande claimed that police had arrested him despite there being no evidence against him. File Pic/X
Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) spokesperson Vikas Lawande was arrested in Pune on Thursday over alleged controversial remarks against certain spiritual leaders associated with the Warkari sect, police officials said, reported the PTI.
According to police, Lawande's interim protection from arrest had ended on Wednesday, following which action was taken.
A complaint had earlier been lodged against Lawande at Wagholi Police Station in Pune district. He was accused of making objectionable comments about some spiritual leaders and members of the Warkari community, according to the PTI.
Police said that his remarks, in which he allegedly referred to certain religious figures as "intruders", triggered strong reactions from sections of the community.
A senior police official stated that the arrest was made after the expiry of the court's interim relief.
Earlier on May 9, devotional preacher Sangram Bhandare and his supporters allegedly threw black ink on Lawande at Mhatobachi Alandi in Pune district in protest against the comments.
The incident had created political and social controversy in the region.
In a social media post, Lawande claimed that police had arrested him despite there being no evidence against him.
He alleged that those involved in the ink attack against him were still free, while action had been taken against him instead.
Lawande had also filed a police complaint with the Pune police following an ink attack on him. The NCP (SP) had also protested in Mumbai after the incident.
According to the PTI, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule criticised the arrest and questioned the functioning of the Maharashtra home department.
Lawande had recently made statements against several religious figures, including Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, Kali Charan, Pradeep Sharma and Swami Anand Swaroop, accusing them of influencing Maharashtra's religious traditions.
The Warkari sect is a centuries-old devotional movement devoted to Lord Vitthal of Pandharpur. Followers undertake annual pilgrimages on foot to the temple town and the tradition is closely linked with Maharashtra's Bhakti movement.
Earlier, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar had expressed concern in a magazine article that "regressive elements" had entered the Warkari tradition and that some speeches promoted religious fanaticism.
However, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rejected the remarks, saying they reflected a misunderstanding of the Warkari tradition, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)
