Allegations of Harassment in Maharashtra Hostels Spark Outcry

Earlier this week, former Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Abhijit Dipke stepped into a storm of controversy, alleging that girls living in government‑run hostels across the state are being subjected to systematic harassment. According to Dipke, hostel wardens and officials have allegedly compelled several young women to undergo pregnancy tests, sometimes under the threat of being expelled from their accommodation.

“It’s not just a rumor,” Dipke told reporters in Pune. “I have spoken to families whose daughters were taken to a medical centre, forced to give a urine sample, and then told they could no longer stay if the result was positive. This kind of intimidation is unacceptable.”

The accusations have ignited a flurry of reactions. The Maharashtra Women’s Commission said it would look into the matter and urged any victim to come forward. Meanwhile, the state’s Higher Education Department, which oversees the hostels, issued a brief statement denying any institutional policy that mandates pregnancy testing, and promised a “prompt internal review.”

Local NGOs that work on women’s safety have also weighed in. “If these allegations are true, they point to a deeper culture of control over young women’s bodies,” said Meera Sharma, director of the NGO Safeguard Maharashtra. “We need transparent investigations and protection for the students.”

Dipke’s claims come at a time when several states are wrestling with similar concerns about the safety of hostel residents. Last year, a report from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights highlighted instances of bullying and privacy violations in dormitories nationwide.

While the government has yet to confirm the specifics of Dipke’s allegations, the issue has already sparked protests on several college campuses, where students held placards reading “Our Hostels, Our Rights” and “No More Tests.” The mounting public pressure suggests that the matter will stay in the headlines for the foreseeable future.