Won’t take coercive action on Rane, Maha tells HC
The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that it would not take any “coercive action” against Union minister Narayan Rane in an FIR registered in Nashik over his controversial remarks against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The government’s assurance came a day after the BJP leader was arrested in a case registered against him at Mahad in Raigad district over the same remarks and a local court granted him bail late at night.
An editorial in the Sena’s mouthpiece `Saamana’, on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Rane and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take his statement against the chief minister seriously. Rane’s son, MLA Nitesh Rane, on the other hand, demanded President’s rule in the state after some Yuva Sena activists who had taken part in protests against Rane later met the chief minister.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday heard Rane’s plea seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in Nashik and all other cases that might be lodged in future. Rane also sought interim protection from arrest.
Nashik police had issued a notice directing him to remain present before the investigation officer at 12 pm on September 2. Senior counsel Amit Desai, appearing for the state, told the division bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar that no coercive action (such as arrest) will be taken against Rane in the FIR registered in Nashik till September 17, when the plea would be further heard. Rane’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde sought protection in all cases that may arise out of the statement in question.
Desai, however, said such blanket assurance of protection cannot be made as the petition only mentioned the Nashik FIR. The HC said that Rane’s lawyers can amend the petition later to seek protection in connection with other FIRs.
Earlier, Magistrate SS Patil of Mahad court who granted bail to Rane noted in the detailed order (which became available on Wednesday) that “considering the reason for arrest and other reasons, I found that the arrest is justified”.
Maharashtra government’s assurance came a day after the Union Minister was arrested in a case registered against him for remarks against CM Uddhav Thackeray