A Holi and Dhulivandan event featuring singer Honey Singh at Pune's Mahalaxmi Lawns, within the jurisdiction of the Airport Police Station, witnessed an overwhelming crowd, leading the police to intervene for crowd control. Amidst the chaos, reports of a lathi-charge went viral on social media, prompting the police to issue a clarification.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Himmat Jadhav stated that no lathi-charge took place and that the police only used mild force to manage the situation. "There was no incident of lathi-charge. The police were simply trying to control the crowd by asking fans to move forward," he clarified. Even before Honey Singh’s performance began, a video surfaced showing police using mild force to disperse the crowd at the entry gate. Social media users misinterpreted the footage, spreading claims that the police resorted to lathi-charge when they were unable to manage the crowd.
The video depicts a massive gathering of enthusiastic young fans, with police struggling to control the surge at the entrance. At one point, an officer is seen using a stick to push back a few individuals, which officials insist was only a mild forceful action to maintain order.