The Hindu : Front Page : Raj Thackeray arrested, gets bail in one case

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Raj Thackeray arrested, gets bail in one case

Mumbai Bureau

But taken into custody in another case

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray was arrested in Ratnagiri on Tuesday at 3.40 a.m. In the afternoon, he was produced at the Bandra court, which granted him bail in one case, but was taken into custody in another case.

Two police stations had registered cases against Mr. Thackeray. At the Kherwadi station in Bandra east, a case was registered against him under Sections 142 to 149, 336, 352, 253, 427, 506(2) and most importantly 153 (A) and (B) of the Indian Penal Code on Sunday in connection with an attack on north Indians appearing for a railway examination at Chetna college, Bandra east.

In Tuesday’s hearing, Mr. Thackeray was granted bail on a surety of Rs. 15,000. The court held that there was no direct involvement by him, claimed advocate S.D. Parle. She said defence argued that there were “no eyewitnesses and the incident took place in the morning, whereas Mr. Thackeray’s address to a gathering [at Konkan] was in the evening.”

“Although Section 153 is non-bailable you have to see the technicality. The bail was given on the ground that the accused was not present at the site of attack,” she said.

Section 153 involves giving provocation with intent to cause riots; 153 (A) for promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, place of birth, residence, and language etc; 153 (B) for imputations prejudicial to national integration.

A case under similar Sections was also registered at the Kalyan station for which Mr. Thackeray was taken into police custody.

He is slated to be produced at the Kalyan court on Wednesday.

However, Mr. Thackeray’s bail is conditional. He will have to pay regular visits to the Kherwadi police station for a week and cannot make any provocative speeches.

It may be recalled that Mr. Thackeray was arrested on February 13 from his residence at Shivaji Park and taken to Vikhroli. He was released on bail immediately.

Then too, the magistrate had warned him against giving provocative speeches. Now, the Mumbai police have moved the magistrate’s court seeking cancellation of this bail, said Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor.

However, according to Mr. Thackeray’s lawyer Ashok Mundergi, they are yet to file a charge sheet in the Vikhroli case.

In fact, the first information report at the Vikhroli station has been challenged in the High Court and the matter is pending.

In February, Mr. Thackeray launched an anti-north Indian campaign, saying that the locals were being denied jobs due to the influx from outside.

Then too there was a prolonged debate on whether the State would actually take action against the MNS leader. There were violent incidents all over the State targeting north Indians.

Related links

Crackdown begins on MNS activists

North Indians attacked in Mumbai

Rulers don’t understand language of non-violence: Raj

Raj Thackeray reiterates stand

A different Sena (Frontline article)

Raj Thackeray resigns from Shiv Sena

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