Rane won’t face coercive action: Maha govt to HC

Assurance only in Nashik FIR case, not others

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday assured the Bombay high court that no coercive action would be taken against Union minister Narayan Rane till September 17 in connection with the FIR registered against him in Nashik over his controversial remark against chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. The state government, however, refused to give blanket assurance for other cases as Mr Rane’s petition mentioned only about the case registered in Nashik.

Mr Rane filed the petition through senior advocate Satish Maneshinde and advocate Aniket Nikam in which prayer has been made to quash the FIR filed in Nashik.

However, during the hearing, advocate Maneshinde sought protection in all cases that may arise out of the alleged statement made by Mr Rane about Mr Uddhav Thackeray.

Upon this senior advocate Amit Desai, representing the Maharashtra government as a special counsel, argued before a division bench of Justices S.S. Shinde and N.J. Jamadar that such a statement could not be made by the state because the petition has mentioned only one FIR, which is filed in Nashik. He also said that it would be difficult for him to take instructions about other FIRs because neither other FIRs are mentioned nor the provisions of law have been stated.

He, however, submitted before the court that no coercive action would be taken against Mr Rane in connection with the First Information Report filed in Nashik till the next date of hearing on this petition.

Advocate Desai stated that while he was making a statement, Mr Rane also ought to undertake not to make any offensive statements considering he is protected.

Mr Rane’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde vehemently objected to the same and submitted that he was not

going to take any steps that would curb his freedom of speech. He added that if such an undertaking was expected from his client, then even the prosecution’s client is required to show restraint in making statements.

The court stated that it expected both parties to act within the framework of law and adjourned the matter for September 17.

By the next date of hearing Mr Rane could add details of other FIRs.

The police had arrested Mr Rane Tuesday afternoon from Ratnagiri following his remarks that he would have slapped CM Thackeray because of the latter’s ignorance of the year of India's Independence. The police had sought his custody for seven days but the magistrate refused to remand him to police custody saying though the arrest of Mr Rane was justified, considering the nature of offence, custodial interrogation is not required. The court then remanded Mr Rane to judicial custody and his lawyers filed his bail application which was allowed.