Notice to Mumbai CP for not executing warrants against Raj Thackeray

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today issued show cause notice to Mumbai Commissioner of Police for not executing a non-bailable warrants ( NBW) issued by it against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on complaints for his alleged remarks against Bihar natives.

"Show cause notice be issued to Commissioner of Police, Mumbai through Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India regarding non-compliance of the orders of the court dated September 28, 2012 (date of issuing NBWs)," Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Manish Yaduvanshi ordered.

The court today also ordered that the processes be served "through Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), who shall depute an officer for execution of the court process and ensure return of duly served process."

The ACMM had on September 28 issued NBWs against Thackeray on two complaints filed against him by Sudhir Kumar and Sudhir Kumar Ojha, both Bihar natives, for allegedly terming 'Chhath pooja', a Hindu festival celebrated especially in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, a "drama and show of numerical strength."

The court had directed that the NBWs be executed through Mumbai Police and had also sought a report from it in this regard by November 17. No report was, however, received on the given date and the matter was fixed for December 22.

The court was again informed today that no report has been received from the Mumbai Police.

Meanwhile, Thackeray, who had also been summoned by the court on similar complaints transfered to Delhi from Bihar and Jharkhand, today sought exemption from personal appearance with his counsel Harshit Jain informing the court that his client has to attend some customary rituals relating to the death of his uncle Bal Thackeray.

The court has now fixed the matter for January 31.