On 7 June 2023, a bandh called by Hindu organisations in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, to protest social media posts about Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan turned violent. Crowds threw stones and damaged homes, shops and vehicles, mostly in Muslim localities, and police used lathicharges and tear gas. Prohibitory orders were imposed until 19 June, mobile internet was cut for about two days, and police said at least 36 people were arrested for the violence.
Key takeaways
- On 6 June 2023, Shivaji's coronation anniversary, status posts featuring Tipu Sultan and Aurangzeb circulated in Kolhapur; police registered cases and detained several young people, most of them minors.
- On 7 June a bandh called by Hindu organisations drew about 5,000 people, by a police estimate; stone-pelting and vandalism followed, and the SP confirmed Muslim homes, shops and vehicles were targeted.
- Police reported 34 to 36 arrests; damage estimates ranged from about 80 vehicles and Rs 7 lakh to over 200 vehicles and properties and Rs 1.5 crore.
- Fadnavis said "children of Aurangzeb" had suddenly appeared and promised a probe; Congress demanded his resignation. No court verdict could be found as of October 2026.
Background: tension before the posts
Kolhapur, in western Maharashtra, is often described by residents as a city of communal harmony, a legacy they credit to the social reformer and former ruler Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Open. In the months before June 2023, an umbrella group called the Sakal Hindu Samaj held rallies across Maharashtra against inter-faith relationships, including two in Kolhapur in November 2022 Scroll.
Local residents and leaders told Scroll that tension had been building since 3 June, when a case was registered at Karveer police station against a 22-year-old Muslim man on a complaint by the mother of a minor Hindu girl. Messages about the case spread on WhatsApp from 4 June. Neighbours told Scroll the two had been in a relationship Scroll.
Days earlier, on Sunday 4 June, four people were booked in Ahmednagar for allegedly carrying posters of Aurangzeb during a procession in the Fakirwada area Business Today. Two of them were arrested Organiser.
The posts and the police account
On the night of 5 June, a 16-year-old in Kolhapur shared a friend's short Instagram montage set to a Haryanvi song. On 6 June, as parts of Maharashtra marked the anniversary of Shivaji's coronation, the post went viral. Hindu outfits said it showed Aurangzeb and was an insult to Shivaji, and a delegation went to two police stations Scroll. PTI, quoting officials, described the posts as Tipu Sultan's image with an "offensive audio message" used as a social media status PTI via Deccan Herald.
A senior police officer told Scroll the video did not show Aurangzeb but Tipu Sultan: "The headgear is of Tipu Sultan, not Aurangzeb." Police named eight accused in an FIR for posting the video on various platforms. Five of them were minors, held in an observation home; officials said they were detained partly to protect them from "mob lynching". SP Mahendra Pandit said the boys' phones were sent for forensic examination to decide whether the content attracted charges Scroll.
The families of the boys told Scroll the posts were shared without intent to provoke; one father said his son did not know it was the coronation anniversary Scroll. Aashqin Ajrekar, a community figure, told Open the youths were "misguided and foolish" and that many Muslims went to the police station on 6 June to support their detention Open.
On the afternoon of 6 June a crowd gathered outside one boy's house and stones were thrown, injuring his elder brother, the family told Scroll Scroll. SP Pandit told Sabrang that FIRs had been registered over an attack on a Muslim vendor on 6 June and six arrests made Sabrang. That evening a crowd gathered outside Laxmipuri police station demanding action; Pandit said that as it returned, "some miscreants pelted stones", and another offence was registered Business Today.
The bandh of 7 June
The Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, with other Hindu outfits, kept up the call for protest into the night of 6 June Scroll. A citizens' delegation later told the Collector the bandh was called to demand strict action against those who posted the status and the release of detained activists Sabrang. The Free Press Journal reported that police had already imposed prohibitory orders and appealed to people not to join processions Free Press Journal.
A crowd police estimated at around 5,000 began gathering at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk at 8 am Scroll. Protesters raised slogans against those accused of posting the content, and some carried posters about the safety of Hindus Business Today.
Stone-pelting, vandalism and police action
Around 11 am, according to Scroll, groups began ransacking Muslim-owned shops, vehicles and homes Scroll. The Free Press Journal reported stone-pelting at shops in the Mutton Market area, tear gas at Malkar Tikti around noon, and lathicharges at Papachi Tikti and on Tararani Road Free Press Journal. Pudhari reported that police fired more than 30 tear gas shells and that the violence was controlled after about three hours Pudhari.
Residents described the damage. In Akbar Mohalla, autorickshaws were overturned and stripped; residents told Open the crowd looked for signs of Muslim ownership Open. A garment trader near Shivaji Chowk showed Open CCTV footage of about two dozen men with rods and stones attacking his building while his family was inside Open. Maktoob and Sabrang, citing posts and videos on social media, reported that stones were thrown at the Muslim Boarding mosque and another mosque; Maktoob also described a video of a fruit vendor being stoned. Open reported stone-pelting at the Muslim Boarding School on the night of 6 June Maktoob Sabrang. In one mixed lane, Hindu neighbours told Scroll they hung saffron flags outside a Muslim friend's house to deter the crowd Scroll.
Damage figures differ. SP Pandit told Scroll that around 80 vehicles and property worth over Rs 7 lakh had been damaged Scroll. Pudhari reported more than 200 vehicles, shops, stalls and homes damaged, about 60 people injured including police, and a preliminary police estimate of about Rs 1.5 crore in losses Pudhari. None of the reports reviewed mentioned any deaths.
Timeline
Ahmednagar posters
Four people are booked over Aurangzeb posters in a procession in Ahmednagar Business Today.
Posts go viral
Police register cases and detain minors; stones are thrown after a crowd leaves Laxmipuri police station Scroll.
Bandh turns violent
About 5,000 gather at Shivaji Chowk; vandalism begins around 11 am Scroll. Police use tear gas and lathis and seek an internet suspension Free Press Journal.
Calm returns
Police report 36 arrests and internet is restored gradually from 9 June PTI via Outlook.
Prohibitory orders, internet suspension and arrests
Orders banning the assembly of five or more people were issued until 19 June PTI via Deccan Herald. Police first proposed suspending internet services from Wednesday afternoon till Thursday evening PTI via Deccan Herald; the Free Press Journal reported a 36-hour cut to internet and SMS Free Press Journal. On 9 June SP Pandit said the order ran until 10 am that day and services were returning gradually PTI via Outlook.
Arrest figures rose over three days: 21 on 7 June, the SP told Maktoob Maktoob; 34, remanded to seven days' police custody, per Scroll Scroll; and at least 36, police told PTI PTI via Outlook. Pudhari reported that three minors were also detained Pudhari. Police records showed most of those arrested lived in Kolhapur, though locals said many in the crowd came from nearby villages Scroll.
Both accounts
Hindu organisations and BJP leaders
Organisers said the posts, on Shivaji's coronation anniversary, were a deliberate insult. Organiser described the march as peaceful until "miscreants" threw stones Organiser Claim · Organiser. BJP leader Ajit Thanekar of the Sakal Hindu Samaj said the anger came from police inaction on earlier incidents Scroll. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dhananjay Mahadik alleged a "larger political conspiracy" behind the posts, while saying protesters "cannot take the law into their hands" Open No evidence published.
Muslim residents, citizens' groups and police
Muslim residents told Scroll and Open that their homes, shops and vehicles were singled out Open. SP Pandit confirmed to Scroll that houses, vehicles and shops of Muslims were targeted Scroll Documented. A citizens' delegation asked the Collector how illegal assemblies were allowed to form despite restrictions Sabrang. Police said force and tear gas were used only after stones hit houses and vehicles PTI via Deccan Herald Police's position.
What the government and opposition said
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said: "It's the government's responsibility to maintain law and order in the state. I also appeal to the public for peace and calm. Police investigation is underway and action will be taken against those found guilty" Free Press Journal.
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in Navi Mumbai that the posts appearing after some politicians spoke of a riot-like situation "cannot be a mere coincidence" and that a probe would identify who was instigating youths PTI via Deccan Herald. Speaking later in Nagpur, he said:
Maharashtra me achanak kuch jilo me Aurangzeb ki auladien paida hui hain (in some districts of Maharashtra, some children of Aurangzeb have suddenly appeared). They are posting pictures and status on social media of Aurangzeb, which is causing ill-will in society.
Devendra Fadnavis, 7 June 2023, as reported by Business Today
He promised strict action against whoever was behind it Business Today. Scroll described the "children of Aurangzeb" phrase as a thinly veiled reference to Muslims Scroll. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi responded by asking Fadnavis whether he knew who the offspring of Nathuram Godse and Vaman Shivram Apte were DT Next.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said: "If the ruling parties and their people come out on roads and create a rift between two religions, then it is not a good sign" PTI via Deccan Herald. A day later he said there was "no need for politics" in the incident and the truth would come out when it was investigated DT Next. State Congress chief Nana Patole demanded Fadnavis's resignation, and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab called for an investigation into who was behind repeated incidents Free Press Journal. Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said it was the government's duty to unearth those behind the act, and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said glorifying Aurangzeb would not be tolerated in Maharashtra Deccan Herald.
Similar incidents elsewhere in Maharashtra
On 6 June a Sakal Hindu Samaj march in Sangamner, Ahmednagar district, was followed by attacks on Muslim-owned shops and on residents of Samnapur village, according to residents interviewed by Newslaundry; a Bajrang Dal organiser said the march was attacked first. Ahmednagar SP Rakesh Ola said 17 people had been arrested Newslaundry. On 9 June Hindu outfits called a bandh in Ashti, Beed district, after a 14-year-old's status about Aurangzeb; police registered an offence and no incident was reported PTI via Deccan Herald.
Outcome and where things stand
- Arrests: 34 to 36 people arrested for the 7 June violence, plus three minors detained, per police PTI via Outlook Pudhari.
- Posts case: eight named in an FIR, five of them minors sent to an observation home; phones sent for forensic tests Scroll. Cyber police were to trace who created the status Pudhari.
- Probe promised: Fadnavis said he would reveal findings on who was behind the posts after the probe PTI via Deccan Herald. No published findings could be found.
- Courts: No chargesheet, verdict, bail ruling or compensation order specific to the 7 June violence could be found in English or Marathi reporting as of October 2026.
Kolhapur district saw further communal violence in July 2024 at Vishalgad fort, about 75 km from the city, a separate episode in which police registered four FIRs against 500 people The Quint.
Questions people ask
What triggered the Kolhapur violence in June 2023?
Status posts featuring Tipu Sultan and Aurangzeb circulated on 6 June 2023, Shivaji's coronation anniversary. Hindu organisations called a bandh for 7 June, which turned violent. Police said the video showed Tipu Sultan, not Aurangzeb.
Who posted the content?
Police named eight people in an FIR, five of them minors held in an observation home. Their families said the posts were shared without intent to provoke.
How many people were arrested?
Police reported 34 to 36 arrests for the 7 June violence, and three minors were detained.
Was the internet shut down in Kolhapur?
Yes, from the afternoon of 7 June. The SP said the order ran until 10 am on 9 June.
What did Devendra Fadnavis say?
He said "children of Aurangzeb" had suddenly appeared in some districts, that the posts' timing could not be a coincidence, and that a probe would follow.
Sources
- Outlook: Row over social media posts on Aurangzeb, Tipu Sultan in Kolhapur, 7 Jun 2023
- Deccan Herald: Tension grips Kolhapur over social media posts on Aurangzeb, Tipu Sultan, 7 Jun 2023
- PTI via Deccan Herald: Stone pelting in Kolhapur; police send proposal to suspend internet, 7 Jun 2023
- PTI via Deccan Herald: Fadnavis on Kolhapur clashes, 7 Jun 2023
- Business Today: Protests in Kolhapur; police lathi charge after stone-pelting, 7 Jun 2023
- Business Today: Fadnavis reacts to protests in Kolhapur, 7 Jun 2023
- Free Press Journal: Police lathi-charge, 30 detained, 7 Jun 2023
- Free Press Journal: Kolhapur becomes new flash point; opposition demands Fadnavis' resignation, 7 Jun 2023
- Maktoob: Violence in Kolhapur over social media posts, 7 Jun 2023
- Sabrang: Kolhapur, valorising Aurangzeb will now result in abuse and arrests, 7 Jun 2023
- Pudhari (Marathi): Kolhapur situation normal, says SP Mahendra Pandit, 8 Jun 2023
- Organiser: Violence in Kolhapur over WhatsApp messages, 8 Jun 2023
- Newslaundry: Unravelling the June 6 violence in Sangamner, 8 Jun 2023
- PTI via Outlook: Normalcy returns to Kolhapur; police deployment continues, 9 Jun 2023
- PTI via Deccan Herald: Status praising Aurangzeb sparks tension in Ashti, 9 Jun 2023
- DT Next: Owaisi on Fadnavis' Aurangzeb remarks, 9 Jun 2023
- Sabrang: Kolhapur citizens meet Collector Rekhawar, 10 Jun 2023
- Scroll: Why an Instagram post shared by teens sparked a riot in Kolhapur, 12 Jun 2023
- Open: In the Name of Aurangzeb, 16 Jun 2023
- The Quint: Mosque attacked, homes torched at Kolhapur's Vishalgad fort, 16 Jul 2024