Chargesheet against Hindu Rashtra Sena chief, others

PUNE: Pune police have filed a chargesheet against Hindu Rashtra Sena chief Dhananjay Desai and 100-150 followers for breaching law and order and holding unlaw assembly after Desai was released from Yerwada jail. Anticipating trouble, police had imposed curfew hours in Pune. Desai and 23 associates were charged in this murder. On January 17, this year, Desai was released on a personal bond of Rs 50,000. He was arrested in the murder of Mohsin Shaikh, a software engineer who was residing in Pune. Shaikh was returning from his prayers, in June 2014. After objectionable posts on Shivaji Mahraj and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, riots broke out in Pune city. Desai then made an inciminating speech which spurred people to to lynch Shaikh in the midst of these riots. Desai and 23 of his associates were arrested and were periodically let off on bail. On the day he was released from Yerwada jail, his followers carried banners and saffron flags and set off on a support rally.