Ragging case in Pune brings law college under scanner, 5 students named in FIR
A second-year LLB student has accused five ILS Law College students of sustained ragging and harassment, leading to an FIR in Pune. The case has raised questions over the college's response after the complainant said internal mechanisms failed to stop the alleged abuse.
In a case that raises fresh questions about campus safety and institutional response, Indian Law Society (ILS) Law College has come under scrutiny after a police complaint led to an FIR against five students for alleged ragging.
The case was registered at Deccan Gymkhana Police Station following a preliminary inquiry. Police have invoked provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1999.
COMPLAINT SPANS OVER A YEAR
According to officials, the complaint was filed by a 35-year-old second-year LLB student who alleged that he was subjected to sustained harassment between October 2024 and December 2025.
The complainant told police that the issue began on October 6, 2024, when he informed college authorities about a group of students allegedly consuming alcohol inside the hostel premises. What followed, he claimed, was a prolonged period of intimidation.
As detailed in the FIR, the harassment included verbal abuse, repeated nuisance outside his room, and attempts to intimidate him.
He also alleged that cigarette smoke was deliberately blown at him, and that his room door was damaged on multiple occasions.
ACCUSED BOOKED, PROBE CONTINUES
The five accused students, all reportedly in their early 20s, have been booked under relevant sections of the anti-ragging law.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Krushikesh Rawale said that investigators are working to establish a clear timeline of events and verify the allegations made in the complaint.
“The inquiry is ongoing, and all aspects mentioned in the FIR are being examined,” the officer said.
The complainant has also raised concerns over the college’s handling of the issue. He alleged that despite informing authorities at multiple points, no effective action was taken to address the harassment.
After receiving no resolution at the institutional level, the student approached the University Grants Commission anti-ragging helpline. This led to the formation of an internal inquiry committee by the college.
While the committee submitted its findings to the UGC, the complainant has questioned the credibility of the report, describing it as flawed and inadequate.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal process, he eventually escalated the matter to the police, leading to the registration of the FIR.
NO OFFICE RESPONSE FROM COLLEGE YET
Attempts to seek a response from college principal Deepa Paturkar were unsuccessful, as calls made for comment were not answered.
The case has once again brought attention to the persistence of ragging in higher educational institutions, despite strict laws and regulatory mechanisms.
The UGC mandates anti-ragging committees, helplines, and strict penalties, yet implementation gaps continue to surface in complaints across campuses.
With the police investigation now underway, the focus will remain on verifying the allegations and determining accountability—both at the level of the accused students and the institutional response mechanism.