Mumbai, Sept 22: A local court today exempted Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for the day in a 1991 riot case and deferred the matter to October three for deciding withdrawal of prosecution against him and 24 other Shivsainiks. On a plea made by Thackeray's counsel, Rajendra Shirodkar, Magistrate S Y Shisode, exempted Thackeray for the day. His lawyer pleaded that the Sena Supremo was not well and unable to come to the court. The court will decide on granting permanent exemption to Thackeray on October three. Thackeray and 24 others are facing the charges of attacking the office of a city-based eveninger "Mahanagar" on October 30, 1991.

The Sena chief is also facing charges of making inflammatory speeches in a public rally, a day before the attack on the newspaper office.

Fifteen of the 24 accused were present in the court today. Others have been asked to appear on October three without fail.


In 1997, the then Shiv Sena-BJP government had moved the trial court praying withdrawal of prosecution against Thackeray and 24 others on the ground that there was no evidence against them. However, the then Magistrate K H Holambe-Patil rejected the state's plea of February 18 the same year. Being aggrieved, the state filed an appeal in Mumbai High Court.
Hearing the appeal on July 17 this year, the high court set aside the lower court order and directed the magistrate to hear afresh the state's plea for withdrawal of prosecution against Thackeray and others.
Bureau Report