Women's panel summons Maharashtra DGP over arrest of Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has summoned the Director General of Police of Maharashtra over arrest of Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has summoned the Director General of Police of Maharashtra for a hearing in a case in which a Marathi actor, Ketaki Chitale, was arrested for allegedly sharing a post against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on social media.

NCW issued a press note saying, the Commission had taken cognizance of a media report wherein actor Ketaki Chitale was arrested for allegedly uploading a social media post against NCP leader Sharad Pawar. As per the news reports, the woman had not mentioned anybody's name in her post, rather she had made a general comment.

NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma had written to DGP, Maharashtra seeking an explanation within 7 days for invoking defamation provisions in the matter, even though the woman did not mention the name of any person in her social media post.

According to the press note, the Commission, upon receiving no intimation, has summoned DGP, Maharashtra for appearing before NCW in-person for a hearing in the matter scheduled to be held on June 17 at 2:30 pm.

Chitale was arrested by Kalwa police after she allegedly uploaded an objectionable social media post about NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Chitale, at present, faces 22 FIRs and 4 non-cognizable offences in Maharashtra because of the social media post. She had earlier approached the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on the investigation in these cases.