Mumbai University's Academy of Theatre Arts continues to remain under a cloud of controversy, even as its contentious director Dr Yogesh Soman has been asked to go on compulsory leave. A long sit-in protest by students of the academy compelled the university to also form a committee to conduct an official inquiry. Dr Ganesh Chandanshive has been given the additional charge of the director's post.

Dr Soman was seen criticising Rahul Gandhi in a video which went viral. The National Students Union of India (NSUI) demanded that action be taken against the professor. Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP, wrote to the current chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray, in support of the professor. He asked that action taken against Dr Soman be revoked.