The Hindu : Front Page : Waiting for proof to arrest Raj Thackeray, says R.R. Patil

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Friday, Feb 08, 2008
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Waiting for proof to arrest Raj Thackeray, says R.R. Patil

Meena Menon

MUMBAI: Suspected Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) members attacked the Bombay Taximen’s Union (BTU) office on Thursday, even as Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil said the government was waiting for proof to arrest its leader, Raj Thackeray.

Mr. Thackeray recently launched a violent campaign against north Indians in the city.

Mr. Patil told reporters Mr. Thackeray would be definitely arrested if there was enough proof.

MNS spokesperson Shishir Shinde said Mr. Thackeray had left for Pune.

Three leaders of the MNS — Praveen Darekar and Nitin Sardesai, both general secretaries, and Aditya Shirodkar, the student wing president — were arrested on charges of rioting and unlawful assembly.

Mr. Patil said the police had arrested those MNS members against whom there was evidence. No one was above the law and the government was still seeking legal advice. The Advocate-General would communicate his opinion to the Police Commissioner.

To a question whether the Advocate-General had advised that Mr. Thackeray could be arrested for promoting enmity among people, Mr. Patil said he had heard nothing of the sort. He said the police needed to complete their investigation before taking action. He had no idea of the speeches and video clips and it had taken some time to gather this material.

To questions on Mr. Raj Thackeray attending a wedding reception hosted by the Police Commissioner, Mr. Patil said there was nothing wrong in going to such functions.

No fear psychosis

There was no fear psychosis in the city and the attack on the BTU office was not a major incident, he said. Glass was broken, one computer and some chairs were thrown around.

“One incident like that does not mean that the law and order situation in the city has deteriorated everywhere,” he said.

He said there were 12-crore Maharashtrians and two crore of them lived outside the State. These incidents were giving the State a bad name, he regretted.

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