FIR filed against Raj Thackeray for May 1 speech

We are prepared to deal with any law and order situation, says Maharashtra Police chief

The Aurangabad Police on Tuesday lodged a first information report (FIR) against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, charging him with the intent to cause rioting.

An FIR under Sections 116 and 117 (abetment to an offence), Section 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections of the Maharashtra Police Act was lodged by the Aurangabad City Chowk Police against Mr. Thackeray and organisers of the MNS rally in Aurangabad on May 1.

In his speech, Mr. Thackeray had exhorted party workers to play the Hanuman Chalisa over loudspeakers “in twice the volume” in front of mosques if their speakers were not removed by the end of May 3.

The police had granted permission to Mr. Thackeray’s event with more than 15 caveats, chief among them being he would not make provocative speeches nor attempt to stoke communal tensions. Sources said that the report by the Aurangabad Police chief to Maharashtra’s Director-General of Police pointed out no less than 12 violations of the pre-address conditions.

Sources said a flurry of meetings took place in Mumbai with State Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil discussing the issue with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Senior leaders of the Congress too held talks with the Chief Minister and Mr. Walse-Patil, demanding appropriate action to prevent communal clashes in the State.

The police also issued notices to MNS workers across the State. Preventive action was taken against more than 15,000 people under various sections of the CrPC and the Maharashtra Police Act.

In Mumbai, notices were issued under the CrPC Section 149 to at least 100 people, including MNS leaders Nitin Sardesai and Bala Nandgaokar.