A court in Nashik district on Wednesday acquitted Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in a 2008 case where his party workers attacked a hotel.
According to the prosecution, Mr. Thackeray was accused of instigating his party workers to unlawfully assemble and attack the hotel owned by a north Indian person in Igatpuri, thus endangering lives and causing hurt to others.
A magistrate court in Igatpuri, while acquitting Mr. Thackeray on Wednesday, said the prosecution had failed to prove its case that the MNS chief had instigated the incident.
Apart from Mr. Thackeray, six others were accused in the case, but the MNS chief’s trial was separated.
“The complainant in his testimony said Mr. Thackeray was not present at the place of the alleged incident. The prosecution could also not bring forward any evidence to show that Mr. Thackeray instigated the attack,” MNS lawyer Sayaji Nangre said.
