Pune, 9th October 2026: Vishrambaug Police have registered a case against 15 people for allegedly staging an unauthorised protest at SM Joshi Bridge in Pune. The protest, led by MPSC aspirants and supported by MLA Rohit Pawar, entered its ninth day on Friday, October 9, with students demanding the resignation of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar.
The police action followed a Bombay High Court direction asking the protesting students to approach the Pune Police regarding their agitation. Police had denied permission to hold the protest at SM Joshi Bridge and directed the demonstrators to shift to a designated protest site.
On Friday morning, police personnel were seen making announcements over a public address system, asking the protesters to vacate the bridge as permission for the demonstration had not been granted.
A case was registered at Vishrambaug Police Station against 15 people for allegedly participating in the protest without permission. Notably, MLA Rohit Pawar, who has been associated with the agitation and supporting the students’ demands, was not named among the accused.
The students have been protesting against alleged irregularities in the examination process and demanding accountability from the commission. Their key demand is the resignation of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar, along with a more transparent and reliable recruitment process.
The police action comes amid continuing tensions over the location and permission for the protest, while the students remain firm on their demands for reforms in the state’s competitive examination system.
