The Bombay HighCourt has dismissed the petition filed by Maharashtra Independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband, Ravi Rana who seeked from the court to quash the FIR filed for allegedly assaulting the police officer who came to arrest the couple. Independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana were arrested for their attempt to play Hanuman chalisa outside CM Uddhav Thackeray’s house Matoshree. It must be noted that the duo’s arrest comes after they gave up their plan of reciting Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minster Uddhav Thackeray’s residence here, citing that they do not want to disturb the law and order situation in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city for an event.

The couple was initially booked under Sections 153A (causing enmity between different groups), Section 34 (common intention) and later on booked under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for challenging the government machinery and making remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.The couple were also booked under provisions of the Bombay Police Act for causing law and order situation in the city.

The matter will be heard at 2.30 pm today after it was mentioned by advocate Rizwan Merchant before a Bench of Justices PB Varale and SM Modak.Dismissing the plea, the court said: “Such a declaration that a person would recite some religious verses either in the personal residence of another person or even at a public place is certainly firstly a breach of personal liberty of another person,Secondly, if a declaration is made that a particular religious verse will be recited on public streets, the state is justified in carrying apprehension that such act would result in disturbance to law and order.

 

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