Ayatollah Khamenei's banner, put up by Iranian community, removed after Bajrang Dal protests in Pune

A banner featuring Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was taken down in Pune’s Loni Kalbhor village, after Bajrang Dal activists raised objections and alleged that no prior permission had been sought to display it.

The banner, put up by members of the local Irani community as part of Muharram observances, drew attention around 1 pm on Monday when a group of about 12 Bajrang Dal activists and local journalists questioned whether the display amounted to “glorifying” Khamenei amid ongoing tensions involving Iran.

Police officials, including Rajesh Khande, the in-charge Police Sub-Inspector of Loni Kalbhor Police Station, visited the site and reviewed the matter. Officers clarified there was no provocative or objectionable content in the banner.


"After complaints were received, the community members removed the banner. There is no objection to the content of the poster. The issue was about lack of permission from the local gram panchayat," a police official said.

Following the visit, police contacted gram panchayat authorities who confirmed that no formal approval had been given for the banner. Based on this, the police asked for the banner to be taken down, which was done without incident.

A notice has since been issued to the concerned parties, and instructions have been given that no such banners or flags should be displayed without approval, said Dr Rajkumar Shinde, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 5).

No further complaints were received after the banner’s removal, and the situation in the village remained peaceful, police confirmed.

The incident comes as Iran remains in global headlines over its nuclear ambitions, and its tensions with Israel that escalated after Tel Aviv launched an attack on Tehran in June.

(With inputs from ANI)