Police object to Ranas’ bail, notice served
HT Correspondent
MUMBAI: A special court here on Monday issued a notice to independent MP Navneet Rana and her Mla-husband Ravi Rana, directing them to appear before it on May 18 in connection with an application filed by Mumbai Police challenging their bail in a sedition case.
The police sought cancellation of the couple’s bail on the ground that they had allegedly violated one of the conditions imposed by a sessions court while granting them the relief last week.
Taking note of the plea, special judge R N Rokade issued a notice and directed the couple to appear before it on May 18. “Issue notice to the respondents (Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana) to appear before this court on May 18,” the court said.
On April 23, Amravati MP Navneet and Ravi, independent MLA from Badnera assembly in the district, were arrested by Khar Police under sections 124-A (sedition), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) for their insistence on chanting the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s residence “to remind the Shiv Sena leader of his Hindutva roots”.
The couple’s public declaration led to confrontations between supporters of the Shiv Sena and the BJP, prompting the chief minister to say that anybody could chant the Hanuman Chalisa at his residence, but no one had the right to threaten the Shiv Sena.
On May 4, the sessions court granted the bail to the couple on furnishing a personal bond of ₹50,000 each and with one or two sureties i n t he same amount. It directed the couple not to address the press on any subject related to the matter. “Breach of the conditions will entail cancellation of the bail forthwith,” the court order said.
In their plea, Khar Police claimed the couple had violated the condition of speaking to the media about the case.
The Ranas denied the charges. “We did not talk about the offence... We spoke about how I was ill-treated and how my health issues were avoided (ignored),” Navneet said.
Ranas to approach PM
Meanwhile, the couple said they will approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to raise the issue of their alleged ill-treatment by Maharashtra authorities when they were in prison.
“We are going to Delhi today and meet leaders who respect women. I am going to meet the PM, (Union) home minister and Lok Sabha Speaker and tell them how we were ill-treated from a lockup to jail,” Navneet said.