[Hanuman Chalisa row] Navneet Rana, Ravi Rana move Sessions Court for bail in sedition case

Member of Parliament Naveent Rana and her husband and Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Ravi Rana have approached the Mumbai Sessions Court seeking bail in the sedition case registered against them after they threatened to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray's private residence..Earlier this month, the MLA had demanded from the CM, who is also chief of ruling party Shiv Sena which is heading the State's coalition government, to recite the Hanuman Chalisa at his residence on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.He also warned that if the CM does not do so, he would go to Matoshree (Uddhav Thackeray's residence) to recite it.On April 23, he said he would go to Matoshree to recite, however the couple called off their plans subsequently stating on their respective social media handles that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting the city.The Mumbai police, however, arrested the two in the evening amidst protests by Shiv Sena members.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 trying to disrupt the law and order situation in the city.They were remanded to 14-day judicial custody on Sunday by a Special Metropolitan Magistrate for MPs and MLAs at Sewree, Mumbai..They had filed a bail application before the Special Magistrate on Sunday itself and the Magistrate placed the plea for hearing on April 29, 2022. However, since one of the offences (Section 124A of IPC) in the FIR is now exclusively triable before the Sessions Court, Advocate Rizwan Merchant appearing for both Ranas informed Bar and Bench that application before the Magistrate will be withdrawn tomorrow. In light of the impending withdrawal, both Ranas filed bail applications in the Sessions Court. Advocate Merchant will be moving the bail application for urgent hearing tomorrow..Earlier today, the couple had moved the Bombay High Court seeking quashing of another FIR slapped against them for assault of police officer who had allegedly come to arrest both Ranas in connection to the recitation case. A bench of Justices PB Varale and SM Modak dismissed the petition today. The Bench, however, directed Mumbai Police to issue a notice 72 hours prior to taking any coercive action against them.

[Hanuman Chalisa row] Navneet Rana, Ravi Rana move Sessions Court for bail in sedition case

Neha Joshi

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