Mumbai Apr 26 PTI After Amravati MP Navneet Rana wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla claiming she was not given water to drink and also faced casteist slurs at Khar police station after her arrest last Saturday Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey on Tuesday tweeted a video of the parliamentarian and her MLA husband Ravi Rana sipping tea while in police custody The Mumbai police commissioner tweeted a 12-second video from his verified Twitter handle sanjayp1 at 2 pm with the caption Do we say anything more The video clip shows the Rana couple sitting on chairs and sipping tea in front of police officials at Khar police station Bottles of mineral water are also seen on the table in front of them Slapped with sedition charge the Independent MP from Amravati Rana had written to the Lok Sabha speaker claiming that her arrest by Mumbai Police was illegal and alleged inhuman treatment in Khar police station In her letter the MP stated that she was being put up at the police station without due regard to the office held by her and not given drinking water while in police custody Navneet Rana also alleged that she was abused due to her caste She sought action against the Mumbai commissioner of police and other top officers over her arrest The Lok Sabha Secretariat on Monday sought details from the Maharashtra government within 24 hours following the allegations made by Navneet Rana against the police after her arrest I was taken to the Khar Police Station on 23042022 and I spent the night in the police station on 23032022I made several and repeated demands for drinking water throughout the night however no drinking water was provided to me throughout the night Navneet Rana had said in the letter Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana were arrested on Saturday after they gave a call for the chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays private residence Matoshree in Mumbai which had triggered angry protests by Shiv Sainiks The couple later withdrew their call citing Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Mumbai for an event The video tweeted by the Mumbai police commissioner has been retweeted multiple times and evoked several likes from netizens The lawmaker couple is currently in judicial custody The sessions court in Mumbai has posted their bail application for hearing on April 29 Navneet Rana is lodged at Byculla jail in Mumbai and Ravi Rana at Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai PTI DC NSK NSK

Mumbai Apr 25 PTI The Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed the writ petition filed by independent MP Navneet and her MLA husband Ravi Rana arrested in connection with the Hanuman Chalisa controversy seeking quashing of an FIR registered against them The couple had approached the HC this morning seeking that the FIR registered against them by the Khar police in the city on the charge of deterring a police officer from discharging her official duties be quashed A bench of Justices PB Varale and SM Modak however said that it found no merit in the plea The Khar police registered two FIRs against the couple after they announced that Hanuman Chalisa will be recited outside Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackerays private residence in Mumbai On April 23 the police registered the first FIR on the charge of promoting enmity between different religions It subsequently added the charge of sedition to this FIR On April 24 the Khar police registered a second FIR against the Ranas under section 353 of the IPC for obstructing a public servant from discharging duty PTI AYA NSK NSK

Mumbai Apr 25 PTI The Mumbai Police have shifted independent MP Navneet Rana to the Byculla womens jail here while her MLA husband Ravi Rana was taken to Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai amid tight security an official said on Monday The couple was arrested on Saturday after they gave a call for the chanting of Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays private residence Matoshree in Mumbai which had triggered angry protests by Shiv Sainiks The Mumbai Police later slapped the sedition charge on the politician couple On Sunday a Mumbai court remanded the Rana couple in 14-day judicial custody Subsequently Navneet Rana the MP from Amravati in Maharashtra was late Sunday night taken to the Byculla womens jail Her husband Ravi Rana the MLA from Badnera in Amravati was first taken to the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai but due to lack of adequate space there he was taken to the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai after completion of the legal formalities the official said Earlier a case was registered against Ranas under Sections 153A promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion race place of birth residence language etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony and 34 common intention of the Indian Penal Code and sections 371 and 135 of the Bombay Police Act Later the police also added IPC Section 124-A sedition in the case against them Under IPC Section 124-A the offence of sedition is committed when any person by words or otherwise brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law The police had also registered another FIR against Ranas for allegedly obstructing police from performing their duty and resisting arrest at their residence in suburban Khar the official said Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil had on Sunday termed appropriate the arrest of the Rana couple The police had also arrested 13 Shiv Sena workers on Sunday for allegedly protesting outside the Khar residence of Ranas on Saturday The party workers were later released on bail police earlier said PTI ZA GK GK

Mumbai Apr 24 PTI Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said they will complain to Union home secretary against the Mumbai polices failure to protect former party MP Kirit Somaiya who enjoys Z category security On Saturday night some Shiv Sena supporters allegedly hurled footwear and water bottles at Somaiyas SUV when he was leaving Khar police station in Mumbai Somaiya had gone to the police station to meet arrested independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana whose earlier call for chanting Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackerays residence Matoshree had angered the Sena cadres The BJP leader had tweeted that he was injured in the attack by Shiv Sena goons Talking to reporters on Sunday Fadnavis said We will take up with the Union home secretary the issue of Mumbai polices failure to protect Somaiya who enjoys Z category security cover Either the Mumbai police indirectly supported the act of attack on Somaiyas car or they have become inefficient to take any step against the attackers The current performance of Mumbai police is highly embarrassing the leader of opposition in the state Assembly claimed It is gross misconduct on part of police as Somaiya had informed the police that he may come under attack at Khar police station Surprisingly the police have not registered any FIR in this case Fadnavis said Let me make it very clear that we are not afraid of such attacks We are capable of tit for tat the former state chief minister said Fadnavis also said he was surprised the way MLA Ravi Rana and his MP wife Navneet Rana were treated She Navneet Rana was kept in a lock-up at night after arrestlooks like the Maharashtra government is afraid of a woman the BJP leader said Union minister Raosaheb Danve also hit out at the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government claiming there was no law and order in the state Talking to reporters in Aurangabad the BJP leader said Earlier people used to give the example of Maharashtra police on maintenance of law and order But today there is no law and order left here Politics is being done by keeping police at the forefront Residents of the state will take revenge for this Our leaders are being attacked in the state Offences are being registered against those who are attacked but no action is being taken against the attackers Danve claimed Raising the issue of Shiv Senas protest outside the Mumbai-based home of MP Navneet Rana and her husband Danve said they do not support agitation at anyones residence The state government should have sent its representative to talk to Ranas but the latter were arrested by Mumbai police on Saturday he said The police department is earning a bad name and they should understand this the BJP leader said Danve also said they would not demand presidential rule in Maharashtra The state government should take steps to improve law and order he added PTI ND AW GK GK

Mumbai Apr 24 PTI The Mumbai police on Sunday registered an FIR against an unidentified person for allegedly hurling stones at the car of former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya near Khar police station an official said But Somaiya refused to take a copy of the FIR as he was not satisfied with sections under which the police registered the case he said Somaiya had gone to the Khar police station on Saturday to meet arrested independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana whose earlier call for chanting Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackerays residence Matoshree had angered the Sena cadres Shiv Sena supporters who had gathered outside the police station protested against Somaiyas visit and shouted slogans While he was leaving the police station in an SUV some protesters hurled footwear and water bottles at his vehicle Somaiya then travelled to the Bandra police station to file a complaint against Sena supporters According to an official from Bandra police official they have lodged an FIR under relevant sections for rioting against an unidentified person But Somaiya refused to take a copy of the FIR and did not sign it saying he was not satisfied with the sections under which the case was registered the official said Somaiya had gone to the Bandra police station late Saturday night to lodge the complaint Some senior BJP leaders including MLA Ashish Shelar had also reached the police station in Somaiyas support and demanded action against the attackers On Sunday Somaiya claimed the attack on him was sponsored by the Uddhav Thackeray government PTI ZA GK GK

Mumbai Apr 23 PTI A First Information Report was registered by Mumbai Police on Saturday evening against Shiv Sena supporters who tried to enter the building in suburban Khar where Amravati MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana were staying officials saidSena supporters who were camping outside the Ranas apartment in Khar broke through the barricades around 9 am but the police stopped themThe Rana couple had announced they would head for Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena chief Uddhav Thackerays residence Matoshree at 9 am to recite the Hanuman Chalisa They later called off the planTaking a serious view of the incident an FIR was registered against Sena supporters at Khar police station under relevant sections of the IPC a police official said PTI DC KRK KRK

Mumbai Apr 20 PTI Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Wednesday said he will hold a meeting with the key leaders of all political parties and some organisations in the state before a final decision is taken over with the use of loudspeakers He made the comments against the backdrop of a strong pitch made by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS and the opposition BJP over removing high-decibel loudspeakers installed on mosques Interacting with media persons here Walse Patil also said that loudspeakers can be installed only after seeking permission from the police as per law He said states Director General of Police DGP Rajnish Seth held a meeting with the top officials on the issue of loudspeakers on Tuesday and submitted a report in this regard to him on Wednesday He Seth has submitted a report to me on what situation may arise in the state over the next some days and steps to be taken in that regard the minister added Walse Patil without naming anyone reiterated that attempts are being made to disturb law and order in the state and added that the government has taken a serious view of the same He requested everyone to desist from taking law into their hands escalating conflicts and dividing communities Strict action will be taken if anyone does this and peace will be established he added Walse Patil said that the Supreme Court had passed a judgement on noise pollution in 2005 and added the state government had issued some government resolutions GR in that regard in 2015 and 2017 Instruction will be issued to authorities concerned to implement the same But before taking a final decision in this regard I will hold a meeting with leaders of key parties in the state to discuss the issue I will hold discussions with some organisations as well After that a final decision will be made he added To a question Walse Patil said MNS chief Raj Thackeray who had made a strong pitch for removing loudspeakers from mosques earlier this month will also be invited for the meeting Walse Patil however did not specify the date when the meeting will be held The minister also said he will welcome if people follow the Supreme Court order on noise pollution on their own To another question Walse Patil said Aurangabad police commissioner has received letters seeking to disallow Thackerays planned rally in Aurangabad city and added that cops will take a call in this regard assessing the local situation Walse Patil also said that there is no reason for the government to oppose if anyone installs CCTVs at temples or any other place of prayers voluntarily from a security point of view He was replying to a question on the MNS reportedly demanding installation of CCTVs in mosques Asked whether loudspeakers installed without permissions on temples or mosques will be removed Walse Patil said that it is not the governments responsibility to install or remove loudspeakers One who wishes to install a loudspeaker should do so as per law seeking police permission Loudspeakers cannot be installed if there is no police permission Those who install loudspeakers they will have to follow the SC order and governments GRs he added Replying to a query the minister said the government has inputs about pockets in the state where the situation may be tense and added that the police have been asked to be fully prepared to face such situations Walse Patil said there is no need to give importance to Amravati MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi Ranas talk of reading Hanuman Chalisa outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays official residence Varsha here Raj Thackeray has earlier asked the MVA government to remove loudspeakers from mosques by May 3 citing noise pollution and threatened to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques in a higher volume if his demand was not met The BJP has supported Raj Thackerays demand PTI ENM NP NP

Mumbai Oct 23 PTI In an apparent dig at former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said there is a case in the state where the complainant has gone missing Thackeray made the statement at the inauguration of two wings of the annexe building at the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court Chief Justice of India N V Ramana Union Law Minister Kiren Rijuju Supreme Court judge Justice D Y Chandrachud and others were present on the occasion Justice D Y Chandrachud pointed out during his address at the event that a case is pending in Maharashtra since 1958 as the accused is absconding But today we have a case where the complainant is missing Thackeray said He gave a complaint making serious allegations but is now missing We do not know where he is This is something that also needs to be looked into he added Although the chief minister did not name anyone his remarks were apparently targeted at the senior IPS officer who had levelled allegations of corruption against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh A few days ago during a hearing of a plea pertaining to Singh the Maharashtra government had told the Bombay High Court that his whereabouts were not known Days after he was shunted out as Mumbai police commissioner Singh had claimed in a letter to the chief minister earlier this year that Deshmukh used to ask the police officers to collect money from restaurants and bars in Mumbai Deshmukh an NCP leader resigned as a minister in April this year although he has denied the allegations against him The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI and the Enforcement Directorate ED are probing the allegations made against Deshmukh by Singh During his address the chief minister added that the state government is now planning to launch a project wherein a new high court complex will be built in Mumbai I would like to extend my invitation to Chief Justice of India N V Ramana right now to come to the function as and when it happens I will try to ensure that the foundation laying of the new building complex and its inauguration are both done by my government he said His statement was apparently in response to minister Rijijus remark that the foundation for this building Aurangabad bench was laid by former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis while Thackeray has come for its inauguration Thackeray added that dispensing justice is a teamwork involving all the four pillars of democracy We all have to work as a team to ensure that none of the pillars collapses he added Thackeray said that when Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was framing the Constitution he was asked about the rights of the central and the state governments and he answered that the except for a few rights to the Centre the state will be equally sovereign Dr Ambedkar had made it clear that the state is equally sovereign except for a few powers to the central government But are these rights of the states being exercised today We should check he said India has completed 75 years of Independence he said adding If we think that we should not lose our independence I request that all the judges should guide the country about the meaning of independence Occupying a certain position doesnt mean that your wish is your authority Wishes and rights are two different things someone should tell this Thackeray said PTI AVI AW NP NP

Thane Sep 26 PTI BJP general secretary C T Ravi on Sunday said the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA government in Maharashtra would not last long as the DNAs of the three ruling parties were different He also claimed that the sentiments of people in the state were against the MVA government The Shiv Sena had parted ways with the BJP after the 2019 Assembly polls and formed the government with the NCP and the Congress Before that the Sena shared power with the BJP for five years 2014-19 with Devendra Fadnavis as the chief minister Ravi who is BJPs in-charge of Maharashtra was speaking to reporters at Kalyan in Thane district on the sidelines of his partys organisational meeting Following the statements of the Shiv Sena leaders there is a discussion that the BJP and the Sena would come together once again and that the days of the MVA government are numbered he said He was apparently referring to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays recent speech in which he addressed leaders including Union minister Raosaheb Danve of BJP as former and possible future colleagues The CMs remark had triggered speculation as to whether a political realignment was in the offing The DNAs of the three ruling parties - Congress NCP and Shiv Sena - are different In the last election the BJP and the Sena had contested the election jointly and people voted for the leadership of Fadnavis But despite that the Shiv Sena betrayed the BJP and joined hands with the Congress and the NCP to form the MVA government Ravi added But we are observing as to how many days this government survives and we are of the opinion that it wont last long he added The BJP leader said that during the tour of Maharashtra he has observed that the atmosphere was against the MVA government In democracy the citizens are the judgesIn the coming days they will themselves take a decision on this he said PTI COR NP NP