Overview
- Patwardhan says security halted him at the Kalina main gate on February 28 when he attempted to meet Buddhist monk and former PhD student Bhadant Vimamsa.
- He later spoke with Vimamsa through the closed gate and offered a rose as a gesture of solidarity.
- In a written statement, the University of Mumbai denied specifically barring him, said it had no prior notice of the visit, and cited heightened entry checks tied to an illegal sit-in.
- Vimamsa has staged a roughly 190-day protest seeking aided status and infrastructure for the Pali department after his PhD registration was canceled for exceeding the time limit in a mass termination of dormant enrollments.
- Supporters allege mistreatment, including removal of his tent and denial of toilet and bathing access, as activists such as Sandesh Gaikwad raise free-expression concerns following the recent Naseeruddin Shah controversy.