Wed Feb 05 23:39:56 IST 2025: ## Actor’s Shivaji Maharaj Escape Claim Sparks Outrage, Police Intervention
**Mumbai, February 6, 2025** – A recent claim by actor and trustee of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Rahul Solapurkar, regarding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s escape from Agra has ignited a firestorm of controversy. Solapurkar’s suggestion that the escape involved bribing Mughal commanders, rather than the commonly accepted tale of using sweet containers, has drawn sharp criticism from historians, activists, and admirers of the Maratha king.
The controversy escalated with protests at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute by members of the Akhand Maratha Samaj, demanding Solapurkar’s removal as trustee. Following the protests, Solapurkar issued a video apology. Pune Police have increased security around his residence.
Adding fuel to the fire, BJP MP Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of Shivaji Maharaj, condemned Solapurkar’s remarks, calling for severe punishment for those who make “derogatory” statements against the historical figure. Bhosale questioned the police’s protection of Solapurkar, further intensifying the debate. The incident highlights the deep reverence and sensitivity surrounding the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra.
First Piper 