The law began to catch up with MNS chief Raj Thackeray over his inflammatory speeches and the recent call for removal of loudspeakers from mosques on Tuesday, as the Aurangabad police registered a case against him and others for his utterances at a public rally on May 1 and a court in Sangli district of western Maharashtra issued a Non Bailable Warrant (NBW) against him in a 2008 inflammatory speech case.
A day ahead of the expiry of an extended deadline for removal of loudspeakers from mosques, the MNS chief faced a triple whammy of sorts, the Aurangabad and Mumbai appeared to be tightening their screws on the MNS chief in connection with the 2008 inflammatory speech case, his objectionable utterances at his public rally at Aurangabad on May 1 and the issuance of notices to more than 100 MNS activists, including their leaders Nitin Sardesai and Bala Nandgaonkar.
On a day when State Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil held meetings with Director-General of Police Rajnish Seth, Mumbkrai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pande and followed it up meeting with confabulations with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Walse-Patil, the Maharashtra police top brass indicated that it was prepared to take the MNS chief head on his threat to organise recitation of “Hanuman Chalisa” in front of mosques where loudspeakers continue to play aazan after his extended deadline of May 4.
The MNS chief’s arrest appeared to be in the realm of possibility in connection with the NBW issued against him by a Magistrate’s court at Shirala in Sangli district in connection with offences registered him under sections 109 and 117 (abetment of offence) of the IPC for allegedly making inflammatory speeches. Though Shirla court had on April 6 directed the Mumbai police Commissioner and the Khrewadi police station to arrest Raj and produce him before it, the Mumbai police officials have not yet executed the NBW.
However, in the current situation where Raj is apparently trying to precipitate the situation over the mosque loudspeaker issue, the Mumbai police may use the NBW to arrest and try to take wind out of his sails in his impending plans to organise organise recitation of “Hanuman Chalisa” in front of mosques where loudspeakers continue to play aazan after his extended deadline of May 4.
Similarly, in the May 1 public rally speech case, the Aurangabad police have booked Raj under section 153 (wantonly giving provation with intent to cuase riot), 116 (abetment of offense punishable with imprisonment if offence be not committed and 117 (abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than 10 persons and under the provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act over his call to Hindus to play “Hanuman Chalisa” in front loudspeakers were not removed there.
Talking to media persons in Mumbai, State Director-General of Police (DGP) Rajnish Seth said the police were prepared to deal with any law and order situation arising due to the loudspeaker row.
“We are capable of tackling any law and order problem and we are well prepared for handling any situation. All leaves of police personnel have been cancelled. We have taken preventive action against 15,000 anti-social elements to ensure they do not create any law and order situation. We have served notices to 13,000 other people,” Seth said.
Meanwhile, as many as 87 companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have been mobilised while more than 30,000 home guards have been deployed across the State to deal with any eventuality arising out of the MNS chief’s threat to embark upon the “Hanuman Chalisa” recitation campaign.