Mumbai: The Bombay High Court today asked
Maharashtra government as to whether it found any evidence of
involvement of top leaders of Shiv Sena, MNS and Congress in
incidents of political vandalism in the state in recent past.
"Have you prosecuted Bal Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray?
Have you prosecuted Raj Thackeray? Narayan Rane?," asked the
division bench of acting Chief Justice J N Patel and Justice B
R Gawai.
The bench asked the Additional Chief Secretary, Home, to
file an affidavit in this regard within two weeks.
The court's direction came during hearing on a PIL based
on letter written by former IPS officer Julio Rebeiro.
Rebeiro had mentioned four incidents in 2008: attack on
Mumbai University by MNS students' wing, attack on Shiv Sena
workers on Hotel Intercontinental, attack on the office of
Marathi newspaper 'Navakal' by supporters of Congress leader
Narayan Rane, and another incident in Thane.
Rebeiro had said in the letter to the High Court that
using provisions of Bombay Police Act, government should
recover damages from political parties in such cases where
public/private property is destroyed.
He also demanded that leaders of these parties, including
Bal Thackeray, be prosecuted.
Referring to this letter, the HC asked government to file
"a specific reply" regarding culpability or non-culpability of
these leaders.
Earlier, additional government pleader Niranjan Pandit
told the court that compensation was recovered in three cases,
barring the 'Navakal' incident.
He also said the respective leaders of Sena, MNS and
Congress (Rane's supporters) who led the attacks were booked
and charge sheeted.
However, the court was not satisfied with the reply.
"Leaders means top leaders," said Justice Patel.
"We want to know whether leaders mentioned in the letter
were found to be involved (in instigating the attacks)," the
court said, adjourning hearing for two weeks.
-PTI
First Published: Wednesday, February 03, 2010, 23:43