Lampooning incident hurt ruling party so much that they filed FIR: Counsel for Nitesh Rane to Bombay High Court

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday assured the Bombay High Court that no coercive action would be taken against Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Nitesh Rane in an attempt to murder case till the pendency of his anticipatory bail plea..Rane was accused of being the main conspirator behind the attempt to murder incident which allegedly took place on December 18, 2021, in the Kankavli region of Maharashtra..His plea seeking anticipatory bail stated that the first information report (FIR) was registered against him possibly because he had allegedly mocked Shiv Sena leader and State Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray."The cat calling and lampooning incident had hurt the ruling party so much that they have taken it as an insult and that is writ large in this FIR," his counsel Advocate Niteen Pradhan submitted. Pradhan further argued that the FIR was registered with the sole aim of preventing Rane's participation in the Sindhudurg Co-operative Bank district elections that were to be held on December 30, 2021. He added that the delay in filing the FIR indicated the same point. "The incident is of December 18, the elections were to be held on December 30, 2021. There is delay in FIR with no justification," Pradhan argued. Pradhan informed the Court that Rane had been cooperating with the investigation and had appeared for recording of statements. He submitted that Rane was allowed to go home after an interrogation of 4 hours, but was on a subsequent date informed of a possible arrest, as a result of which the present plea was filed. .Due to a paucity of time, the Court did not hear the State's response to the application. However when the counsel pointed out that the statements continued till today, Special Counsel Sudeep Pasbola for the State orally assured the Court that no coercive action would be taken against Rane till the final verdict in this plea. Justice CV Bhadang has placed the matter for hearing tomorrow. .Won't take coercive action against MLA Nitesh Rane: Maharashtra government to Bombay High Court