Insult to Hindu religious sentiments: Muslim women perform namaz at historic Hindu site in Pune
Pune, Maharashtra, India 
16 October, 2025
Case Summary
Hindu religious sentiments were mocked and insulted after namaz was offered by members of the Muslim community at the historic Shaniwar Wada Fort in Pune. According to reports, communal tensions escalated after a group of Muslim women offered namaz at the historic Shaniwar Wada Fort, a monument built by Peshwa Bajirao in 1736 and regarded as a powerful symbol of Maratha heritage and Hindu sovereignty. A video of the incident went viral on social media, escalating communal tensions in the area. In response to the viral video, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni, along with members of the Patit Pavan Sanghatana and other Hindu organisations, held a protest and conducted a symbolic “purification ceremony” at the site on 19 October 2025. They performed the Shiva vandana and sprinkled the holy gaumutra to restore the sanctity to the fort. Kulkarni stated that the protest aimed to maintain social harmony in Pune and to demand police action over the offering of namaz at a protected monument. She described Shaniwar Wada as a sacred emblem of Hindu Swaraj, asserting that it was not a mosque and that no religious activity of another faith should take place there. Subsequently, the police registered a case against unidentified women who had offered namaz at the site, citing violations of the rules governing protected monuments, since Shaniwar Wada is an ASI-protected monument. Heavy police forces were deployed to maintain peace in the area. It is important to note here that the Shaniwar Wada fort is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and holds immense historical and cultural importance as the former seat of the Peshwas and a symbol of Hindavi Swaraj envisioned by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Given its status as a symbol of Maratha Hindu pride and an ASI-protected monument, any form of religious activity is prohibited here.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within this, the subcategory is- Defiling religious customs. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling of these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. This case has been added to the tracker because namaz was offered at Shaniwar Wada, a historic and sacred Hindu site, by members of the Muslim community. Shaniwar Wada in Pune, Maharashtra, is not just an architectural monument but one of the most powerful symbols of Maratha valour, Hindu resurgence, and civilizational pride. Built in 1736 by Peshwa Bajirao I, it served as the political and cultural centre of the Maratha Empire — an empire that rose as a direct challenge to Mughal domination and embodied the vision of Hindavi Swaraj, or self-rule rooted in Hindu civilizational values and freedom from Islamic imperialism. The fort stands as a revered emblem of Hindu sovereignty and sacrifice in the Maratha struggle to defend dharma. Given its profound historical and spiritual significance, Shaniwar Wada is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which strictly prohibits all forms of religious activity within its premises. This makes the offering of namaz there not only a violation of the law but also a deliberate and provocative act. The Muslim women involved would have been fully aware of these prohibitions, yet they chose to perform an Islamic ritual inside a monument that symbolises Hindu pride and resistance. This cannot be interpreted as an innocent act of devotion; it was a calculated move that disrespected the sanctity of a site held sacred by Hindus. Performing namaz at Shaniwar Wada, therefore, was a conscious assertion meant to challenge Hindu identity and desecrate a monument that stands as a testimony to Hindu sovereignty. It evoked painful historical memories of Islamic domination and served as a symbolic act of reclaiming space over a Hindu symbol of power. Such incidents are not isolated; they form part of a recurring pattern where religious provocations are carried out in or near Hindu spaces to test, humiliate, or undermine the community’s faith. In this context, the act at Shaniwar Wada represents not only a breach of law but a targeted affront to Hindu sentiments and a form of ideological aggression against Hindu identity itself.
Case Status
Complaint registered
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
female
Sources 
