Raj Thackeray: Maharashtra court issues non-bailable warrant against MNS chief in 14-year-old case

Sangli: In more trouble for Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, a  court in Maharashtra's Sangli district has issued a non-bailable warrant against him in connection with a 14-year-old case.

In 2008, Thackeray was booked under sections 109 and 117 (abetment of offence) of IPC for allegedly making inflammatory speeches. 

While issuing the non-bailable warrant on April 6, Judicial Magistrate, First Class at Shirala in Sangli district asked the Mumbai police commissioner to arrest the MNS chief and present him before the court. 

The judge issued the warrant against Thackeray and another MNS leader Shirish Parkar through the Mumbai police commissioner and Kherwadi police station respectively as they failed to produce themselves before the court during the case proceeding, said assistant public prosecutor, Jyoti Patil. 

She said the court has asked police to implement the warrant before June 8 and produce both the leaders before the court.  In 2008, MNS workers had staged a protest in Shirala against the arrest of Thackeray in an agitation seeking priority for local youth in jobs. 

A local MNS functionary claimed there was a government rule which states that political cases prior to 2012 should be withdrawn. However, this case is being raked up as Thackeray raised the issue of loudspeakers atop mosques, he added. 

A case has also been registered against the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief and organisers of a public rally in Aurangabad over the former’s speech during which he had reportedly asked his supporters to “silence the loudspeakers atop mosques”, according to news agency ANI.

The Aurangabad Police registered the case against the MNS chief after watching the viral videos of his speech. 

Sharing more information, Maharashtra police chief Rajnish Seth said that the Aurangabad police commissioner will take appropriate legal action against Raj Thackeray over his speech against loudspeakers atop mosques.