Row Over Pandava Era Stepwell In Pune Fuming Again In Pune.

Pune; March 2026: Tension prevailed in Manchar of Pune district after an altercation reportedly broke out between police personnel of Pune rural police and Rajya Sabha BJP MP Medha Kulkarni during her visit to a Pandava-era stepwell site on Friday, amid a dispute over alleged encroachment in the area.

Kulkarni had reached Manchar on the occasion of Shiv Jayanti and visited the historic stepwell (locally known as Barav) to review the situation following a recent controversy of encroachments in the area. According to local sources, the MP also visited a nearby dargah located adjacent to the stepwell. It is also being claimed that she urged activists of certain Hindutva organisations to mark the alleged encroachment in the area with coloured paint.

Following this, some activists reportedly attempted to place a photograph of a Hindu deity at the site, leading to tension at the spot. Anticipating that the situation could escalate, police officials from Pune Rural Police intervened and stopped the activity. During the intervention, a brief altercation reportedly took place between police personnel and MP Kulkarni; a video of the same also went viral on social media. Speaking on the incident, Kulkarni alleged that members of the local Muslim community had put up boards, painted the structure and constructed a Mazaar at the site without permission.

“They (People from the local Muslim community) have put up boards, painted the structure and constructed a Mazaar here without any permission. However, when I attempted to write ‘Om’ at the site, the police stopped me. This place belongs to us, and we have ample proof to support our claim. Despite that, we are being prevented from doing so. We have given them an eight-day deadline, failing which Hindus will carry out karseva to reclaim possession of this place”, said Medha Kulkarni. She also claimed that the place is a Pandav-era stepwell, and that several proofs have already been submitted to the authorities to support this. “The place belongs to Hindus”, she added.

Police have since increased their deployment in the area to maintain law and order, while the administration said the situation is being closely monitored and talks are underway with both sides to maintain peace.

Earlier in the month of September 2025, communal unrest occurred in Manchar, Pune district, following the discovery of a tunnel-like structure beneath a dargah during renovation work. The controversy in Manchar stems from an incident, that while road work was underway near a mosque in the city center, a portion of the mosque’s wall suddenly collapsed. At this time, a tunnel-like structure was visible under the mosque, which sparked arguments in the area. Hindutva organisations had claimed that there was a temple there. Although the administration had inspected it at the time and clarified that nothing objectionable was found, the incident still maintained an atmosphere of suspicion in the minds of the people.

Pune Rural DSP Amol Mandave on the 13th of September 2025 had assured that after an alleged tunnel-like structure was found under a dargah during renovation, peace has been maintained in the Manchar area. He added that police are monitoring the situation and warned people not to believe or spread false rumours on social media, or they may face legal action.

During legal intervention, while briefing media reporters, DSP Amol Mandave had said, “After whatever happened here due to the construction work at the Dargah, there is now complete peace. We have spoken to both parties, and they have promised to maintain peace. Accordingly, full police arrangements are in place, and we are actively monitoring the situation; there is no law and order problem here. We want to advise people not to believe or spread any rumours. If anyone posts something incorrect on social media, legal action will be taken against them”.

Team Maverick.