Savitribai Phule Pune University has suspended two male students from its academic department and hostel after they allegedly confronted a female student outside the girls’ hostel and entered the premises during an argument with women students. The university has also initiated the process of filing a police complaint and appointed a high-level committee to investigate the incident.
The confrontation allegedly took place at around 10.30 pm after the two students questioned the woman for standing outside the hostel with a male friend. A student residing in the hostel told The Indian Express that the men objected to the woman being outside at night, entered the girls’ hostel premises and argued with female students.
The university’s Public Relations Office said the two students had attempted to intimidate a woman student by questioning her inappropriately outside the hostel. Several female students subsequently met Vice-Chancellor Sharad Gosavi and submitted a representation demanding strict action, according to the university statement.
The incident was followed by a protest by female students on the SPPU campus. The protesters demanded that the administration file a police complaint against the two students. The episode has placed attention on how university authorities handle conduct, access controls and student safety within residential campus facilities.
The student who spoke to The Indian Express said the woman involved did not want to file an individual complaint because she feared repercussions on her professional future. The account could not be independently verified through a separate statement from the woman. The university’s action followed the representation submitted by the other female students.
The university said the admission of both students to their academic department and hostel had been suspended with immediate effect. It also said strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible after the committee completes its investigation. The statement did not specify the duration of the suspension or the committee’s deadline.
At Chaturshringi police station, Senior Police Inspector Uttam Bhajnavale said some women students from the university had visited the station early in the morning. However, he said the student concerned had not submitted a written complaint. The police position leaves the proposed university complaint and the committee’s findings as the next formal steps in the case.
