The Navi Mumbai on Saturday arrested Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale for sharing a “derogatory” Facebook post against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, even as MNS chief Raj Thackeray condemned the “objectionable” post against Pawar, by saying that though he had “political differences” with the NCP chief but he strongly disapproved the actress' “hideous” comments against the latter.
During a near day-long drama that unfolded after Ketki Chitale shared an allegedly defamatory Facebook against the NCP chief, some NCP’s irate women activists hurled ink at the little-known Marathi activist while she was being taken to a police jeep at Kalmboli in Navi Mumbai.
Though it did not mention the NCP chief’s full name, the objectionable Facebook referred to him through his surname as Pawar and mentioned his age as 80 years (Incidentally Pawar is now 81-year-old). The FB post, which described Pawar as “a mosquito”, carried comments like "hell is waiting" and "you hate Brahmins". The tweet mentioned the name of Advocate Nitin Bhave.
Acting on a complaint lodged by one Swapnil Netke, the Kalwa police registered a case against Ketki under sections 500 (defamation), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 505 (2) (making, publishing or circulating any statement, rumour or report promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes), 153 A (spreading disharmony among people) of the IPC.
The post shared by Ketki is the second objectionable post against Pawar that has figured in the social media for the past few days. Earlier on May 11, one Nikhil Bhamre put out a camouflaged “death threat” against the NCP chief. The tweet read thus: Time has come for the ‘Gandhi’ of Baramati… And for Baramati to prepare a Nathuram Godse.... Baramati Uncle apologise”. The tweet was “liked” and “re-tweeted” by scores of twitter users.
Within hours after they registered an offence against Ketki, the police arrested the Marathi actress.
On his part, the NCP chief downplayed the comments by the Marathi actress against him, by saying: “I do not know her. Nor do I know that the matter is”.
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray slammed the Marathi actress for sharing out a “perverse” facebook against Pawar. “One woman has made a strange comment against Pawar. Does not she parents? Does not she have any culture? Does not she know who is she talking about? Why can’t be cultured in her approach? Doesn’t she know what will happen to her tomorrow?,” the chief minister asked.
Maharashtra Housing Minister and Pawar’s staunch supporter Jitendra Awhad the NCP activists would register offences against Ketki in "at least 100-200" police stations in the state.
“We will not tolerate this kind of hideous posts against Pawar sahib. Our activists register complaints against Ketki in100 to 200 police stations to register offences. He is the father of the NCP family. He is everything for us and such hideous comments are made about him and that too by a woman!," Awhad said.
Condemning the tweet by the Marathi actress, senior NCP leader and minister Chhagan Bhujbal also called for immediate action against Ketki. “It doesn't matter if she is an actress, actor or any minister. She has no right to make such a statement. We demand immediate action against her,”Bhujbal said.