Tag: Ravi Rana

  • Political angle behind sedition charge against Rana couple, lawyer tells Mumbai court

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The sedition charge against Independent Lok Sabha MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi Rana in Maharashtra was invoked due to “political upheaval”, their lawyer told a special court here on Thursday while opposing a police plea seeking cancellation of their bail in a case related to Hanuman Chalisa recitation.

    Both the defence and prosecution completed their arguments on the plea on Thursday following which special Judge R N Rokade posted the matter for order on August 22.

    Opposing the bail cancellation plea, advocate Rizwan Mechant, appearing for the Ranas, said the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 124A (sedition) was invoked against the couple as a result of “political upheaval” between two groups.

    But the Supreme Court has stayed every case under the sedition charge.

    “So they (prosecution) cannot ask for a review of that order” All that remains now is IPC section 153A (promoting enmity), he said.

    On May 11, the apex court put on hold the colonial-era penal law on sedition till an “appropriate” government forum re-examines it and directed the Centre and states to not register any fresh FIR invoking the offence.

    In one of the cases registered by the Mumbai police, the Rana couple was booked under IPC sections 124A and also 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony).

    The Ranas were arrested by the police in Mumbai on April 23 after they announced that they will recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside the then-Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra, leading to protests by Shiv Sena workers.

    On May 5, Judge Rokade granted the Ranas bail with certain conditions, one of which prevented the lawmaker-couple from Amravati from making any statement related to the case to the media.

    A few days later the police approached the special court seeking that the bail of Navneet Rana, the Lok Sabha MP from Amravati, and Ravi Rana, the Independent MLA from the same district in eastern Maharashtra, be cancelled as they had allegedly violated bail conditions.

    Referring to the media interaction the couple had after coming out of the prison, special public prosecutor Pradip Gharat argued that the duo had breached the bail condition of not speaking to reporters on the case and hence they should be sent back to judicial custody.

    The moment they speak to the media on a subject related to the case, their bail stands cancelled, Gharat argued.

    However, Merchant submitted that the alleged media “interview” mentioned in the plea was not in respect to the subject matter of the case.

    This was a single incident and thereafter there was no interview, Merchant submitted.

    The interview was not produced before the court “the court should have seen the interview in totality,” the defence counsel said.

    The press is a medium to reach out to the public, this is not an act to insult the court, the lawyer argued.

    People’s freedom can be curtailed only if there is an extreme step and this (interview) was not one such act. it did not amount to interference in probe or inciting the public to create law and order situation, Merchant said.

    MUMBAI: The sedition charge against Independent Lok Sabha MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi Rana in Maharashtra was invoked due to “political upheaval”, their lawyer told a special court here on Thursday while opposing a police plea seeking cancellation of their bail in a case related to Hanuman Chalisa recitation.

    Both the defence and prosecution completed their arguments on the plea on Thursday following which special Judge R N Rokade posted the matter for order on August 22.

    Opposing the bail cancellation plea, advocate Rizwan Mechant, appearing for the Ranas, said the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 124A (sedition) was invoked against the couple as a result of “political upheaval” between two groups.

    But the Supreme Court has stayed every case under the sedition charge.

    “So they (prosecution) cannot ask for a review of that order” All that remains now is IPC section 153A (promoting enmity), he said.

    On May 11, the apex court put on hold the colonial-era penal law on sedition till an “appropriate” government forum re-examines it and directed the Centre and states to not register any fresh FIR invoking the offence.

    In one of the cases registered by the Mumbai police, the Rana couple was booked under IPC sections 124A and also 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony).

    The Ranas were arrested by the police in Mumbai on April 23 after they announced that they will recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside the then-Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra, leading to protests by Shiv Sena workers.

    On May 5, Judge Rokade granted the Ranas bail with certain conditions, one of which prevented the lawmaker-couple from Amravati from making any statement related to the case to the media.

    A few days later the police approached the special court seeking that the bail of Navneet Rana, the Lok Sabha MP from Amravati, and Ravi Rana, the Independent MLA from the same district in eastern Maharashtra, be cancelled as they had allegedly violated bail conditions.

    Referring to the media interaction the couple had after coming out of the prison, special public prosecutor Pradip Gharat argued that the duo had breached the bail condition of not speaking to reporters on the case and hence they should be sent back to judicial custody.

    The moment they speak to the media on a subject related to the case, their bail stands cancelled, Gharat argued.

    However, Merchant submitted that the alleged media “interview” mentioned in the plea was not in respect to the subject matter of the case.

    This was a single incident and thereafter there was no interview, Merchant submitted.

    The interview was not produced before the court “the court should have seen the interview in totality,” the defence counsel said.

    The press is a medium to reach out to the public, this is not an act to insult the court, the lawyer argued.

    People’s freedom can be curtailed only if there is an extreme step and this (interview) was not one such act. it did not amount to interference in probe or inciting the public to create law and order situation, Merchant said.

  • Hanuman Chalisa row: Mumbai police files plea seeking cancellation of Rana couple’s bail 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Mumbai police on Monday filed an application in a special court here seeking cancellation of the bail granted to independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi Rana, accused in a sedition case following a row over the recitation of Hanuman Chalisa.

    The police sought that the couple’s bail be cancelled on the ground that they had allegedly violated one of the conditions imposed by the special court while granting them bail last week.

    Navneet Rana, the Lok Sabha member from Amravati in Maharashtra, and her husband Ravi Rana, the legislator from Badnera in Amravati, were arrested by the Mumbai police on April 23 after they announced that they would recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’ in Bandra area here.

    They were booked on charges of sedition and prompting enmity between different groups.

    The special court had on May 4 granted bail to the couple and imposed some conditions on them, including not to indulge in a similar offence and not to speak to the media.

    On Monday, the suburban Khar police filed an application through special public prosecutor Pradip Gharat, seeking that the court cancel the couple’s bail as they had allegedly violated the condition of not speaking to the media.

    “The accused persons (Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana) have given interviews to media since their release and hence, flouted the condition imposed by the special court while granting them bail.

    We are seeking for the bail to be cancelled and a warrant to be issued to the accused and they be taken in custody forthwith,” Gharat said.

  • Will approach PM Modi against our ‘ill-treatment’ by Uddhav government: Rana couple

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi on Monday said they will approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to raise the issue of their alleged ill-treatment by Maharashtra authorities when the couple was in jail recently.

    Talking to reporters here, Navneet Rana said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, “who back-stabbed the BJP”, should not talk and teach the Ranas about principles.

    The Ranas also dismissed the allegation that they committed contempt of court by speaking to the media.

    On May 4, a special court here while granting bail to the couple said the duo shall not commit a similar offence while on bail, and not address the press on any subject related to the case.

    The couple was arrested on April 23 by the Mumbai police after they announced that they would recite ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ outside Chief Minister Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’ here, which had angered workers of the Shiv Sena, Thackeray’s party, leading to tension.

    They walked out of jail on May 5 following which Navneet Rana was admitted to a private hospital here.

    Her lawyer had then said she had complaints of high blood pressure, body-ache and spondylitis.

    She was discharged from the hospital on Sunday.

    “We are going to Delhi today and meet all the leaders who respect women. I am going to meet the prime minister, (Union) home minister and Lok Sabha Speaker and tell them how we were ill-treated from a lockup to jail. I am going to complain about it,” said Navneet Rana, who was flanked by her husband.

    Describing Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut as a “parrot”, Navneet Rana alleged that he had talked about “burying the couple”.

    “We had filed a complaint against it here, but no action was taken. So, I am going to Delhi to raise the issue,” she said.

    The Ranas also categorically denied having committed any contempt of court by speaking to the press.

    “We did not talk about the offence, how it was registered against us, reciting ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ and Matoshree. We spoke about how I was ill-treated from the lockup to jail and how my health issues were avoided (ignored),” she said.

    The Lok Sabha member from Amravati wondered would be the fate of common people if a public representative like her could be treated “in such a manner” in Maharashtra.

    “So, it was important for me to speak up and the Constitution has given me the right as a public representative. Nobody should snatch my rights from me,” she said.

    She said CM Thackeray should learn how to run the state from his predecessor and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.

    “Devendra Fadnavis ji also ran the government for five years, but he was not this shrewd. Thackeray should learn from Devendra sahab how to run Maharashtra (government) and with what sentiments,” she said.

    She further said that Thackeray, “who back-stabbed the BJP”, should not talk and teach the Ranas about principles.

    Ravi Rana, the MLA from Badnera in Amravati, also hit out at CM Thackeray over the Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation issuing a notice to the housing society where they live in suburban Khar here following a complaint of illegal construction.

    “Thackeray should inspect our flat online since he worked only through the online platform for the past two-and-half years,” he quipped.

    “You (the CM) can send Raut and (another Shiv Sena leader and state minister) Anil Parab, your right and left (hands), who are sitting idle. You can send them to take the measurements (of the house) if there is any problem. We will welcome them,” the MLA said.

    To a question, Ravi Rana said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar should take information on how the couple was allegedly ill-treated when they were in the lockup and jail.

    “We were treated worse than a criminal,” he alleged, while responding to Pawar’s reported remark that the duo was served tea when taken to Khar police station before their arrest.

  • Day after getting bail, MP Navneet Rana walks out of Mumbai jail

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Independent MP Navneet Rana walked out of a jail in Mumbai on Thursday, a day after a court here granted bail to her and her MLA-husband Ravi Rana, more than a week after they were arrested in an alleged case of sedition.

    After being granted bail on Wednesday, the necessary documents had not timely reached the prisons where they were lodged.

    On Thursday, Navneet Rana, the Lok Sabha memer from Amravati in Maharashtra, came out of the Byculla women’s jail in south Mumbai around 2 pm, an official said. She will be admitted to a private hospital in suburban Bandra for the treatment of an ailment, he said. Her husband is yet to released from the Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai.

    Mumbai | Amravati MP Navneet Rana admitted to Lilavati Hospital after being released from Byculla Jail today.BJP leader Kirit Somaiya visited the hospital to meet her.(Video Source: Navneet Rana’s Facebook) pic.twitter.com/5Uaauet4B2
    — ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2022
    The Rana couple was arrested on April 23 by the Khar police here under sections 124 (A) (sedition) and 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code.

    The couple had announced that they would recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’ here, which angered workers of the Shiv Sena, Thackeray’s party, leading to tension.

    The couple later dropped the plan, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city the next day.

    But the police, nonetheless, booked them for sedition and ‘promoting enmity between different groups’, among other offenses.

    The special court for hearing cases against MPs and MLAs laid down several conditions while granting them bail on Wednesday.

  • Hanuman Chalisa row: Court order on bail plea of Rana couple now on May 4

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s MP-MLA couple Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana, arrested over the Hanuman Chalisa row, will have to remain in jail at least for a few more days as a special court here on Monday said it will give its ruling on their bail plea on May 4.

    Earlier, special judge R N Rokade had reserved the order for Monday. But the order couldn’t be delivered as the court was busy with other matters and dictation (of the bail order of Ranas) was not completed.

    The judge said he will now pass the order on May 4. Independent Lok Sabha MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi Rana were arrested on April 23.

    The couple had moved the court seeking bail in an FIR registered by the Mumbai Police against them on charges of sedition and promoting enmity following their public declaration of reciting the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra.

    On Saturday, both prosecution and defence completed their arguments on the bail application.

    Their bail plea said the call to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside ‘Matoshree’ cannot be said to be aimed at promoting feelings of enmity or hatred among different group and this charge under IPC section 153(A) cannot be sustained.

    There was no intention on the part of the applicants (Ranas) to instigate people or spread hatred by reciting the Hanuman Chalisa near the CM’s private residence, their plea said.

    “It is submitted that by no stretch of imagination, can the acts of the Applicants be stated to constitute the offence of sedition,” the plea said.

    Further, the Mumbai Police had issued a notice to the couple under section 149 of the CrPC (dealing with preventing cognizable offences) and the applicants had complied with their direction and not stepped out of their residence, it added.

    Navneet Rana, the Lok Sabha MP from Amravati in eastern Maharashtra, and Ravi Rana, the MLA from Badnera, had eventually dropped their plan to recite the Hanuman Chalisa (hymns dedicated to Lord Hanuman) outside Thackeray’s private residence citing the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Mumbai for an event.

  • Hanuman Chalisa row: Bail plea of Rana couple likely to be decided on May 2 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A special court here is likely to decide the bail plea of jailed Independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana on May 2.

    The couple had moved court seeking bail in an FIR registered by Mumbai police under provisions related to sedition and promoting enmity following their plan to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence here.

    On Saturday, both prosecution and defence completed their arguments, after which Special Judge RN Rokade reserved the order for Monday.

    The bail plea of the legislator couple contended that a call to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside ‘Matoshree’, the CM’s private residence in Bandra East, cannot be said to be calculated to promote feelings of enmity or hatred.

    It also said the charge under section 153(A) cannot be sustained, adding that there was no intention on the part of the applicants to instigate or create hatred by reciting Hanuman Chalisa near the CM’s private home.

    Their bail plea also claimed that by no stretch of imagination can the acts of the applicants be stated to constitute the offence of sedition.

    It added that Mumbai police had issued notice under section 149 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the applicant had complied with it and had not stepped out of her residence.

    Amravati Lok Sabha MP Navneet Rana and her husband Ravi Rana, who is MLA from Badnera, had eventually dropped their plan to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Matoshree on April 23 citing the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Mumbai for an award ceremony the next day. 

  • MP Navneet Rana was not ill-treated by police, says Maharashtra home minister 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil on Tuesday denied Independent MP Navneet Rana’s accusation that she was ill-treated in police custody after her and her husband’s arrest on Saturday.

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has sought information about the accusations and it will be provided, he added.

    In a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Navneet Rana alleged that she was ill-treated on account of her caste and not given even water at the Khar police station.

    ALSO READ: After Mumbai top cop posts tea-sipping clip, Rana says she was ill-treated in lock-up of Santacruz cops

    After police earlier in the day released a video showing her drinking tea at the police station, her lawyer said the incident took place at Santacruz police station and not at Khar station.

    “I personally sought information about the accusations of Lok Sabha member Navneet Rana that she was ill-treated by police officials because she belongs to a lower caste,” Walse-Patil told reporters.

    “I did not find any evidence backing her allegations. It is a fact that no such incident has taken place in the police station,” the minister added.

    Action was taken against the Rana couple “within the legal frame”, he said, adding that he would not comment further as Nanveet Rana has approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over the issue.

    “He (speaker) has sought information from us and we will send it,” Walse-Patil added.

    On the grant of permission for Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray’s rally in Aurangabad on May 1, the home minister said decision will be taken in the next couple of days.

    “The decision on whether to grant permission will be taken by the local police commissioner and not the state government,” he added.

    Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana were arrested on Saturday after they announced that they would recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’ in Mumbai.

    The announcement triggered angry reaction by Sena workers.

    The couple later backed out, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mumbai the next day.

    The lawmaker couple, now booked for sedition besides other charges, is currently in judicial custody. 

  • Court seeks Mumbai police’s reply to bail plea of Rana couple in sedition FIR

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A sessions court here on Tuesday asked the Mumbai police to file on April 29 their reply to a bail application of jailed independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband, MLA Ravi Rana.

    The couple had on Monday moved the court seeking bail in an FIR registered by the Mumbai police against them on charges of sedition and promoting enmity, after they gave a call to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra.

    When the matter came up for hearing in the court on Tuesday, the police said they want to respond with an affidavit to the bail plea. The court accepted this and posted the matter for further hearing on April 29.

    The Ranas were arrested by the Mumbai police on Saturday.

    Ranas’ advocate Rizwan Merchant on Monday said the couple decided to withdraw their bail plea pending before the Bandra magistrate court that had remanded them to 14-day judicial custody on Sunday.

    Merchant had said the suburban Khar police initially booked the Ranas under Indian Penal Code Section 153(A), for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups.

    At the time of their remand, the police informed the magistrate court that they had added the charge of sedition, under IPC Section 124A, against the couple in the first FIR.

    Their bail plea said the call to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside ‘Matoshree’ was not a calculated move to promote feelings of enmity or hatred and the charge under section 153(A) cannot be sustained.

    There was no intention on part of the applicants to instigate or create hatred by offering Hanuman Chalisa near ‘Matoshree’, the couple said in their plea.

    It is submitted that by no stretch of imagination can the acts of the applicants be stated to constitute the offence of sedition, the plea said.

    Further, the Mumbai police had issued notice under section 149 of the CrPC and the applicant (Navneet Rana) had complied with the police’s direction and not stepped out of her residence, it added.

    Navneet Rana, the Lok Sabha MP from Amravati in eastern Maharashtra, and Ravi Rana, the MLA from Badnera in Amravati, had eventually dropped their plan to recite the Hanuman Chalisa (hymns dedicated to Lord Hanuman) on Saturday outside Thackeray’s home, citing the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Mumbai for an event on Sunday.

  • Hanuman Chalisa: HC refuses to quash FIR against Ranas; says public officials must act more responsibly 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court Monday dismissed a writ petition filed by lawmaker couple Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana, arrested under various charges in connection with the Hanuman Chalisa controversy, seeking that one of the two FIRs registered against them under section 353 of the IPC be quashed.

    The court said the petitioners and all others occupying public positions must act more responsibly and show respect towards other public persons.

    “As is often said, with great power comes great responsibility,” a bench of Justices P B Varale and S M Modak observed, adding they found no merit in the plea filed by the Rana couple.

    ALSO READ | ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ row: MP Navneet Rana, MLA-husband move court seeking bail in sedition FIR

    The bench, however, said that if the police decide to arrest the Ranas or take any other coercive action against them based on the second FIR, it must give them notice of 72 hours.

    The Khar police in Mumbai registered two FIRs (First Information Reports) against Independent MP from Amravati Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana between April 23 and April 24, following their statement that they would recite ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ outside Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence, ‘Matoshree’ in Bandra on April 23.

    Their announcement triggered angry protests by Shiv Sena workers who gathered outside the couple’s residence in Khar area on Saturday seeking their apology.

    The first FIR against the Ranas was filed at Khar police station around 5:30 PM on April 23 on the charge of promoting enmity between different religions.

    The police subsequently added the charge of sedition to this FIR.

    On April 24, a second FIR was filed against the Ranas at around 2 AM under section 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code.

    According to the second FIR, when the Rana couple was arrested and asked to get in the police vehicle, they argued with the police and “some dhakka-bukki (jostling)” took place.

    The Rana couple, currently in judicial custody, approached the high court on Monday morning seeking the quashing of the second FIR through advocate Rizwan Merchant.

    Merchant told the HC that all the offences were part of the same event and that two separate FIRs had been registered by the police out of vendetta- so that if granted bail in the first FIR, the Ranas can be arrested in the second FIR.

    Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Pradip Gharat argued that both the FIRs were the result of two separate incidents- the first was based on the declaration of the recitation (of Hanuman Chalisa), and the second one was registered when the couple resisted arrest.

    The high court said it found merit in the SPP’s submission.

    “These are two independent, different events and not part of the same series of events. We find no reason to grant relief,” the HC said. 

    The bench, however, said that if the police decided to arrest the Ranas or to take any other coercive action against them based on the second FIR, it must give them prior notice of 72 hours.

    The bench said the Maharashtra government had been right in apprehending law and order problems following the couple’s public statements on reciting the Hanuman Chalisa at ‘Matoshree’.

    “The FIRs show that these are two independent occurrences. The first incident, of the petitioners reaching Mumbai, saying they were going to recite on April 23 gave rise to the first FIR,” the HC said.

    “The second incident of resisting arrest gave rise to the second FIR under section 353. The occurrence of both events is at different times. They are independent of each other and not part of the same central event,” it said.

    Merchant argued that the Rana couple had been arrested on the mere apprehension that they would recite the Hanuman Chalisa.

    “They (police) registered a particular offence only because PM Narendra Modi was visiting the town (on April 24) and they thought there will be a law and order situation. But this programme was cancelled.

    They eventually publicly decided to drop the idea,” Merchant said referring to the Rana couple withdrawing their plan to recite Hanuman Chalisa on Saturday, a day ahead of the PM’s visit to Mumbai.

    “Also, they never said they will recite it ‘at’ ‘Matoshree’. They said ‘outside’ Matoshree,” Merchant argued.”

    The high court, however, said that cancelling the planned recitation “did not matter”.

    SPP Gharat argued that the Ranas were aware that PM Modi was visiting Mumbai on April 24 and that their plan would cause an “explosive situation” as the situation was already tense over the issue of loudspeakers at mosques.

    He also said that the police had initially booked the Ranas only on the charge of promoting enmity.

    But after speaking to witnesses and recording statements, the police realised that the recitation plan was a “cold and calculated move on their (Ranas) part to disturb the state government. Hence, the charge of sedition was added to the first FIR”.

    The high court said the state government’s fear seemed justified.

    “Such a declaration of the recitation at someone’s personal residence or even at a public place is certainly firstly the breach of the other person’s personal liberty (sic),” the HC said.

    “Secondly, the state is justified in its apprehension that such act of reciting religious verse at the CM’s private house would result in disturbance to law and order,” it said.

    “We made similar comments just two days back,” the high court said while referring to a hearing last week on Union minister Narayan Rane’s “slap” remark against Uddhav Thackeray.

    “But we are pained to say that our words fell on deaf ears.

    We realized that we cannot expect anything even from those occupying respectable posts ” the judges said and dismissed the plea of the Ranas, saying that it was devoid of merits.

    “The second FIR pertains to a different set of events. These aren’t a sequel to the first set of events. These are two independent, different events and not part of the same series of events, we find no reason to grant relief,” the bench said.

    This is not the MP-MLA couple’s first brush with controversy.

    The Bombay high court in June last year cancelled the caste certificate issued to Navneet Kaur Rana, saying it was obtained fraudulently using fabricated documents.

    In January this year, the Ranas had found themselves embroiled in another legal case, after Ravi Rana was booked for attempt to murder over an assault on the Amravati municipal commissioner.

  • Maharashtra MP, MLA couple arrested over Hanuman Chalis row shifted to separate Mumbai jails

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Mumbai Police have shifted independent MP Navneet Rana to the Byculla women’s 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 Thackeray’s 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 women’s 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 37(1) 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.