India, May 22 -- The Wagholi police on Thursday arrested Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) spokesperson Vikas Lawande in Pune for allegedly making controversial remarks against some spiritual leaders associated with the Warkari sect, officials said. The police action took place after a Pune court rejected his plea seeking an extension of interim protection from arrest in the case registered at Wagholi Police Station on May 8.

Amitesh Kumar, Pune police commissioner, said, "We arrested Lawande after the court rejected his anticipatory bail application."

Lawande was earlier granted interim protection from arrest till May 20. Following his arrest, several NCP (SP) leaders, including MLA Rohit Pawar and state unit president S...