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After Sapkal’s statement comparing Tipu Sultan with Shivaji, leaders of the BJP in Ahilyanagar announced a Rs 10 lakh reward for anyone who would cut off his tongue.
Harshwardhan Sapkal Booked Over Tipu–Shivaji Remark; BJP Leaders Announce Rs 10 Lakh Reward
Harshwardhan Sapkal, the Maharashtra Congress chief, has been booked by Pune police after he described Tipu Sultan as a “symbol of bravery” comparable to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The case was registered following a complaint by city BJP chief Dhiraj Ghate, who alleged that Sapkal’s remarks were provocative and hurt religious sentiments.
The complaint relates to Sapkal’s comments about similarities between Shivaji and Tipu Sultan.
Rs 10 lakh reward for cutting tongue
After Sapkal’s statement comparing Tipu Sultan with Shivaji, leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Ahilyanagar announced a Rs 10 lakh reward for anyone who would cut off his tongue.
The announcement was made during a protest held in front of the Shivaji memorial, where BJP workers alleged that Sapkal’s remarks were objectionable.
Party workers staged a ‘shoe protest’ against Sapkal and raised slogans at the site.
The statement has triggered sharp political reactions and increased tensions in the region.
What Sapkal said?
Sapkal said journalists had asked him whether photographs of all great leaders should be displayed together in offices, and how he viewed the demand that the photos of Shivaji and Tipu Sultan should be placed side by side.
While replying, he said, “Fadnavis’ old habit of twisting words turning ‘dha’ into ‘ma’ has resurfaced, and he has found an opportunity to create a Hindu-Muslim controversy.”
Sapkal had made his remarks on Saturday while speaking to reporters about a controversy over a portrait of Tipu Sultan displayed in the office of the Malegaon municipal corporation’s deputy mayor Shan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed, who is Muslim.
The portrait of Tipu Sultan, known for fighting British colonialists, is being opposed by the Shiv Sena and other groups.
Sapkal said in Marathi that Tipu had followed Shivaji’s ideals.
“The kind of bravery that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj possessed and the concept of ‘swarajya’ (self-rule) that he introduced… much later, following in that very tradition and taking inspiration from his ideals, Tipu Sultan waged war against the British,” he said.
“In that sense, Tipu Sultan was a great warrior who displayed immense bravery and was a true son of India. He never allowed any poisonous or communal ideas to sway him. As a symbol of bravery, we should view Tipu Sultan as equivalent to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he added.
What we know about the complaint?
According to ANI, the complaint said Sapkal’s remarks “hurt the sentiments of Hindus”, apparently because Tipu was a Muslim and Shivaji a Hindu, and could disturb communal harmony.
Ghate said the remarks hurt the sentiments of Hindus “who believe and consider Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as God”.
“I don’t understand what point Harshwardhan Sapkal wants to prove by making such a statement, which hurts sentiments,” he said.
The case has been registered under sections 192, 196(1), 196(2), 352 and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police said further investigation is underway.
Maharashtra, India, India
February 15, 2026, 12:52 IST
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