Raj Thackeray arrested, released in an hour
Ten days of intense speculation and uncertainty over law and order finally ended on Wednesday afternoon after Mumbai police arrested Raj Thackeray for his alleged controversial statements.
By TNN |
| Raj Thackeray being brought to the court. | |
MUMBAI: It was all over in an hour. Ten days of intense speculation and uncertainty over law and order finally ended on Wednesday afternoon after Mumbai police arrested Raj Srikant Thackeray for his alleged controversial statements.
The MNS chief within an hour was a free man, but not before dozens of vehicles were torched, property destroyed, 1,800 faced arrest and one innocent lost life in an attack by his followers.
The day also saw Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi being arrested and released too on similar charges. The controversial Samajwadi Party MP, who is facing charges of instigating hatred among communities and making inflammatory speeches, was picked up from his Colaba residence. He was, however, granted bail within an hour by a magistrate���s court in Bhoiwada on furnishing a bond of Rs 10,000. The SP leader had offered to surrender on Tuesday after an FIR was filed against him in Vikhroli police station.
The 10-day-long saga over Raj���s arrest culminated on Wednesday in his token arrest. After days of dithering, the police arrested Raj and Azmi on Wednesday afternoon on charges of promoting animosity between groups and inciting violence.
A Mumbai police team, consisting of 16 top police officers and over 200 personnel, arrived at Raj���s residence around noon on Wednesday and arrested him four and half hours later even as the police and paramilitary forces maintained tight security around the city in anticipation of a possible backlash by MNS workers.
There was strong security presence in the vicinity of Raj���s residence and the movement of the people was being regulated since Tuesday. One battalion of Rapid Action Force and three strike forces of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) guarded the area.
Raj, wearing a blue sweater, came out of his Shivaji Park residence and got into the waiting police van before being taken to the Vikhroli court in a convoy amid tight security. There was heavy security on the court premises, too.
The city police had registered cases on Sunday night against him under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153 A (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of places of birth, residence and the like) and 153 B (assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 117 (abetting the commission of any offence
by the public) of the Indian Penal Code.
Once in court, Raj had to give up his tough posturing. He tried to defy the court���s restrictions, but Raj had to give in and settle for ���conditional bail���. The restrictions under Section 149 prohibit him from addressing rallies and the media. Raj���s lawyers argued against the restrictions. The magistrate told the MNS chief that he would be sent to judicial custody in case he refuses to follow the restrictions. The MNS chief opted for bail. He was soon released on a bond of Rs 15,000.
The MNS chief within an hour was a free man, but not before dozens of vehicles were torched, property destroyed, 1,800 faced arrest and one innocent lost life in an attack by his followers.
The day also saw Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi being arrested and released too on similar charges. The controversial Samajwadi Party MP, who is facing charges of instigating hatred among communities and making inflammatory speeches, was picked up from his Colaba residence. He was, however, granted bail within an hour by a magistrate���s court in Bhoiwada on furnishing a bond of Rs 10,000. The SP leader had offered to surrender on Tuesday after an FIR was filed against him in Vikhroli police station.
The 10-day-long saga over Raj���s arrest culminated on Wednesday in his token arrest. After days of dithering, the police arrested Raj and Azmi on Wednesday afternoon on charges of promoting animosity between groups and inciting violence.
A Mumbai police team, consisting of 16 top police officers and over 200 personnel, arrived at Raj���s residence around noon on Wednesday and arrested him four and half hours later even as the police and paramilitary forces maintained tight security around the city in anticipation of a possible backlash by MNS workers.
There was strong security presence in the vicinity of Raj���s residence and the movement of the people was being regulated since Tuesday. One battalion of Rapid Action Force and three strike forces of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) guarded the area.
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Raj, wearing a blue sweater, came out of his Shivaji Park residence and got into the waiting police van before being taken to the Vikhroli court in a convoy amid tight security. There was heavy security on the court premises, too.
The city police had registered cases on Sunday night against him under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153 A (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of places of birth, residence and the like) and 153 B (assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 117 (abetting the commission of any offence
by the public) of the Indian Penal Code.
Once in court, Raj had to give up his tough posturing. He tried to defy the court���s restrictions, but Raj had to give in and settle for ���conditional bail���. The restrictions under Section 149 prohibit him from addressing rallies and the media. Raj���s lawyers argued against the restrictions. The magistrate told the MNS chief that he would be sent to judicial custody in case he refuses to follow the restrictions. The MNS chief opted for bail. He was soon released on a bond of Rs 15,000.
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As the news of his arrest spread, the city roads wore a deserted look. Shopowners pulled the shutters down and many offices and schools were closed. Download
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