Rapper booked for ‘filming abusive song’ inside SPPU premises

A first information report (FIR) was lodged against the accused, identified as Shubham Anand Jadhav, at the Chaturshringi police station on Saturday.

“Offence has been lodged against Shubham Anand Jadhav under sections 294 (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place ) and 448 (trespass) of the Indian Penal Code, and section 67 of the Information Technology (IT) Act. No arrest has been made yet. Probe is underway,” said senior police inspector Balaji Pandhare of the Chaturshringi police station.

It is learnt that Jadhav allegedly filmed a rap song having abusive and objectionable content inside the SPPU premises without seeking permission from the university. The song was made viral on social media. Activists of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) took objection to the song and sought action against the singer. Following this, SPPU officials filed a complaint with the police. Police have lodged the FIR and initiated an investigation into the case.

Dr Prafulla Pawar, Registrar, SPPU said the University administration strongly condemns such acts.

“It has been noticed that some persons have created and filmed offensive rap songs using some footage from the premises of the main building of SPPU without permission, and the said video has been posted on social media platforms. Taking such offensive videos without the permission of the University is objectionable and serious. The University strongly condemns such acts. In this regard, the process of filing a case is going on and strict action will be taken against those concerned, ” said Pawar.

Meanwhile, the police has denied any caste-linked, religious or political angle involved and the case has been registered for using obscene words in the song which has footage from the SPPU.

Jadhav, who goes with the hip-hop name ‘rocKsun’ and hails from Karad in Satara district, released the song on YouTube last month. He has considerable popularity as a Marathi rapper.

NCP student wing leader Akshay Patil, who had raised the issue, has clarified that he is not against the rapper or the song but his objection was how the SPPU administration allowed an elaborate shoot inside its secure auditoriums and meeting rooms. “They are now trying to go after the rapper, but the real issue is about the systems that allow shooting for videos in most secure areas of the university without checking its content,” said Patil.