The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted protection from arrest to BJP MLA Nitesh Rane till January 7 in an attempt to murder case .
Advocate Nitin Pradhan, appearing for Mr. Rane, sought protection of his client from arrest.
Special Public Prosecutor (PP) Sudeep Pasbola submitted that there was evidence against Mr. Rane and they would submit the same through a reply.
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The court inquired whether any protection had been granted so far.
Mr. Pradhan said ‘no’. But the matter was heard till December 30 and the order was passed. Mr. Rane was called for statements, and was interrogated for three-four hours. Then he was told that he was likely to be arrested, he stated.
Mr. Pasbola said that on December 24, Mr. Rane did come for a statement, but there was only an FIR and nothing else against him. A very close confidante of Mr. Rane was arrested and “after his statement, we found evidence. After that the applicants made themselves scarce”. Mr. Rane was an influential person and “we are not able to record statements of the witnesses”, he observed.
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The court said, “We are only on the issue of whether there can be any arrangement for the next two to three days. We have to hear the matters on merits and then decide.”
Mr. Pasbola said, “we will not take any coercive action, but it may not be recorded, this should suffice”.
The court recorded at the request to file reply by special PP and adjourned the matter to January 7 at 2.30 p.m.
Mr. Rane has been charged with sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. His plea states he has been falsely implicated and there is no evidence against him.