The SPPU hostel case has escalated after Chatushrungi police registered a criminal trespass case against two Savitribai Phule Pune University students accused of entering the women’s hostel and misbehaving with a woman student. The university has suspended their access to the hostel and academic department following protests by women students.
The accused have been identified as Pramod Rathod and Omkar Gore, both students in the university’s department of education and residents of the boys’ hostels on the campus. According to police, they entered the women’s hostel at around 11pm on October 1, despite male students being prohibited from entering the premises.
Police said the two students allegedly questioned a woman student about why she was outside the hostel at night and whether her parents knew about it. They also allegedly entered the hostel office without authorisation and argued with members of the staff.
The case was registered after university security guard Sampat Patil, 51, lodged a complaint. The police have booked the students under Section 329(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for alleged criminal trespass. The allegations have not been tested in court.
The incident led women students to stage a sit-in at Chatushrungi police station on Monday morning. The protesters demanded strict action against the students and submitted a representation to the university’s vice-chancellor. Their protest brought the issue beyond an alleged breach of hostel rules, placing attention on security, access restrictions and the administration’s response to complaints involving women students.
Following the protests, the university administration suspended the accused students’ access to their academic department and hostel. The hostel warden also reportedly resigned, taking responsibility for the incident. The source report does not provide further details about the resignation or state whether a separate university inquiry has been completed.
The police investigation is being conducted by Police Sub-Inspector Umesh Koli. The immediate criminal case concerns the alleged unauthorised entry and conduct at the hostel, while the university’s administrative action concerns the students’ access to campus facilities. Further proceedings will determine how the allegations are examined and whether additional action is taken.
