HC dismisses Ranas’ petition for relief; MP writes to LS Speaker

MUMBAI: People in public life are expected to act responsibly, the Bombay high court observed on Monday as it dismissed a petition by the arrested lawmaker couple, Amravati parliamentarian Navneet Kaur Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana, even as the MP wrote to Lok Sabha speaker, claiming that her arrest was illegal.

The petition filed by the Ranas questioned the second complaint against them at the Khar police station for “threatening and resisting police officials” when they went to arrest them at their residence on Saturday.

A division bench of justices Prasanna Varale and SM Modak directed Khar police to issue the duo advance notice of at least 72 hours before arresting them in connection with the second FIR under Section 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from performing his duty) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court disapproved the Rana couple’s intention to chant the Hanuman Chalisa outside the chief minister’s residence.

“The petitioner has disclosed that they could recite religious verses outside the house of another person,” said the bench. “Such type of a declaration is certainly in breach of the personal liberty of the other person and therefore the state is justified in carrying apprehension that such act will lead to disturbance in law and order situation.”

Since the petitioners claim to be actively involved in public life, they are expected to act more responsibly, the court said. “With great power comes great responsibility,” said the bench.

“The two FIRS are registered for two different set of incidents and don’t require indulgence of this court,” the judges said. “However, if the state wants to make any arrest, they should give 72 hour’s notice to the petitioners.”

Khar police had on Saturday also registered an offence against the Rana couple for promoting enmity between two groups and added the charge of sedition against them after they declared their intention to chant the Hanuman Chalisa outside Matoshree, the private residence of chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, and came all the way to Mumbai for allegedly trying to create a law and order situation.

The couple, presently in judicial custody on the first FIR, on Monday moved court, questioning the registration of the second FIR.

Meanwhile, Navneet Rana has written a letter to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, saying her arrest by Mumbai cops was illegal and alleging “inhuman treatment” in police custody.

In the letter sent on Sunday, Navneet demanded strict action against Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey and claimed the action against her and her husband was taken on directions of chief minister Thackeray.