Court to pass order in Rana couple’s bail plea on May 2
The Hindu
Prosecution said the politically powerful Ranas would sabotage the probe into the Hanuman Chalisa row if released
The City Civil and Sessions Court on Saturday said it would pass an order on May 2 in the bail plea by independent Member of Parliament (MP) Navneet Kaur Rana, and her husband, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ravi Rana, in the Hanuman Chalisa row.
Ms. and Mr. Rana were arrested on April 23 for declaring that they would recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside ‘Matoshree’, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s residence. They withdrew the plan because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit and were sent to judicial custody by a magistrate court for 14 days on April 24.
They have been booked under Sections 124A (sedition) and Section 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) of the Indian Penal Code.
Special Judge R.N. Rokade heard arguments by senior advocate Aabad Ponda appearing for the Ranas, and Special Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat representing the Mumbai Police.
Mr. Ponda argued how reading the Hanuman Chalisa could be an act of sedition. “People are reading it in London but we are not allowed to read it in Mumbai?” he asked. He added the Ranas did not even go to ‘Matoshree’.
Mr. Gharat opposed their bail and said the Ranas were politically powerful people and would sabotage the probe if released.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”