After a major political controversy erupted over Bollywood actress Dia Mirza’s Diwali appeal video, Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday broke his silence and spoke about the ongoing dispute.

The eco-friendly and firecracker-free Diwali public awareness campaign launched by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) featured Madhuri Dixit, cricketer Ajinkya Rahane and actress Diya Mirza among others.

The video appeal, featuring celebrities, originally posted by the BMC on its social media handle, was deleted following criticism from MLA Amit Satam.

Mayor Ritu Tawde also distanced herself from the issue, blaming the social media agency and administration.

Amidst the rising political debate, the Bombay High Court questioned the backlash, asking what was wrong with celebrities advocating for an eco-friendly festival. Breaking his silence on the matter, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has now responded to the ongoing dispute.

CM Fadnavis addressed the media in Pune on Tuesday after inaugurating the Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar metro route. When asked about the deletion of Dia Mirza’s video and the Bombay High Court’s directives, he remarked that he did not believe the High Court had reprimanded anyone and suggested it might have merely expressed an opinion, noting that the matter had not officially gone to the High Court as a formal case.

When asked about the High Court raising questions regarding the removal of the video from social media, CM Fadnavis said that deleting the video was the BMC’s prerogative. He stated that whoever owns the social media handle retains full authority over what content to publish or remove, and that the BMC acted according to its own discretion.

Speaking on the actress, CM Fadnavis added, “Actress Dia Mirza may be a renowned and successful actress, but she is not a prominent national political leader of India. This issue is not at our level; it is a minor matter,” suggesting it was inappropriate to direct such questions to him.

Addressing the backlash surrounding her Diwali video, actress Dia Mirza asked, “I spoke in favour of a pollution-free festival, what did I do wrong?”

On Tuesday, the High Court expressed strong displeasure without directly naming anyone regarding the deletion of Dia Mirza’s video.

The Bench observed that in a secular nation like India, it is unfortunate and contrary to the principles of secularism when political leaders assign communal angles to the choice of public celebrities stepping forward for the public good.

Emphasising that no individual can be excluded from celebrating festivals, the court directed the municipal administration to re-broadcast Dia Mirza’s removed video.

A passenger travelling on an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Pune allegedly attempted to open the emergency door lever cover shortly after takeoff, triggering an alarm on the aircraft, police said on Tuesday.

Following the incident, an IndiGo crew member lodged a police complaint against the passenger. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.

The accused has been identified as Gaurav Satyendra Rautela, 33, a resident of Saswad in Pune district. He was travelling on IndiGo flight number 6E6884 and was seated in seat 19D, next to the emergency exit.

Senior Police Inspector Govind Pawar of the Airport Police Station told media that during preliminary questioning, the passenger claimed that he had tried to open the lever cover out of curiosity and was unaware that it was connected to the emergency door.

As soon as he touched the cover, an alarm sounded inside the aircraft, alerting the crew.

Pawar said that tampering with the emergency door mechanism could endanger the lives and safety of other passengers on board. He added that the alarm system is part of the aircraft’s safety protocol and is designed to alert the crew in such situations.

The incident occurred around 12.45 a.m. on Monday, shortly after the flight took off from Delhi. The aircraft landed in Pune at around 2 a.m. Following the incident, IndiGo crew member Omkar Vinod Kulkarni lodged a complaint against the passenger.

Pawar also pointed out that a similar incident had occurred in 2024, following which police had registered a case.

Police have issued a notice to Rautela under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). A case has also been registered against him under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 25 of the Aircraft Act.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-upload the public awareness video of actor Dia Mirza that urged citizens not to burst firecrackers on public roads during Diwali.

She had uploaded the video on the court’s earlier directions aimed at curbing pollution.

A division bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Dr Neela Gokhale expressed strong displeasure over remarks made by certain political leaders against the actor for participating in the awareness campaign.

The court also reiterated that India is a secular country and emphasised the importance of following judicial directions issued in the public interest.

The BMC had enlisted Dia Mirza as part of its Diwali awareness drive to sensitise citizens about air pollution and compliance with court-imposed restrictions on bursting firecrackers in public spaces. However, the civic body removed the video from its social media platforms after objections were raised by BJP leaders, including Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam and BMC Mayor Ritu Tawde.

Tawde had criticised Mirza’s appeal, alleging that her opposition was consistently directed against Hindutva and those associated with it. She argued that Hindus did not require lessons on how to celebrate Diwali and accused the actor of pursuing a selective agenda.

Responding to the controversy, Dia Mirza defended the video, saying it was recorded on the directions of the Bombay High Court and was intended to promote public awareness about air pollution.

“Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair. The video was recorded in the interest of public awareness, with the intention of encouraging a healthier and more mindful celebration. Air pollution is a matter of public health, and every effort towards reducing it is a step towards a better environment for all,” Mirza told media on Monday.

The BMC’s Diwali campaign featured several public figures, including actor Madhuri Dixit and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, advocating environmentally responsible celebrations. However, objections were raised to Mirza’s participation, with critics questioning the involvement of celebrities in advising the public on festival practices.